Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (Homily)
August 21, 2016 5:00 pm · Father David Mbimadong
In answer to a question that seeks to know whether with the presence of Jesus in the world, only very few will be saved. Jesus said, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough." This message was good for the people of Jesus' time, and it is more than good for us today in our present world affairs. Today we live in the world where some people think and believe that by merely going to church, or by being baptized, we can walk through life the way we want, in any careless manner and still share eternal life with God the Father.
To people of this thought, Jesus says, "Strive through the narrow gate." Don't wait, don't waste your time. He wants everyone of us to be saved, but if somehow, some people agree not to be saved, He is not going to force them. But He has left for us a teaching, that we ourselves, those of us who come and hear Him every day of our lives, should make it a point to understand what we hear, live it in order to help other people come to know Him, and also want to be with Him. Yet in out present world, because many changes in our world, many developments, even those of us that call ourselves good Christians, good Catholics, we come to a point where instead of living a decent life, our lives leave a lot to be desired. When Jesus came into the world, He came to call everyone. Particularly those who are disadvantaged, like those who are called sinners in our present time, those who do not believe what we teach, those who seem to have nothing to do with our faith, He came to call them, and you will recall that in many instances, the Pharisees would say He eats with sinners.