“God’s People Enter the Narrow Door”
August 25, 2013
The 14th Sunday of the Christian Season of Ordinary Time/Kingdomtide/Time of the Church
Isaiah 28: 14 - 22 /Psalm 46/Hebrews 12: 18-19; 22-29/ Luke 13: 22 - 30
His Eminence
The Most Reverend Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines D.D.
Archbishop of Manila
and
Primate
of the
National Church in the Philippines
and
the Territorial Church of Asia
International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church
The Scriptures for today could bring anxiety and fear into some hearts. Many times, when we read Scriptures, we only read the words; we do not understand the context, and neither do we understand the culture from which they came. The Scriptures were all written many hundreds of years ago. The culture at that time was much different than it is today.
If we read the Scriptures according to today’s culture, we will not understand God. Neither will we understand His ways. Sometimes, what is written in our language brings condemnation. When in reality, that is not God. God is a God of love, of compassion, and who operates under His covenant.
We have lost sight of covenant. We do not understand covenant today. Marriage is a covenant, and yet in many societies today, if not all societies today, marriage is just a limited experience. One legislator wanted to make it like a driver’s license that you have to renew it every so many years. We have devaluated the things of God. We pulled them down to common ordinary nothings. Then, we wonder why we have the problems around us today. Why do we have the turmoil, the pain, the sorrow? This is because we belittled or denied the things that God has given to us.
I would want us to understand right from the very beginning that God is a God of compassion and love. He would not have made this universe, the world, and all that it contains if He wasn’t a God of love. He wanted a companion. He was not just going to create an individual, but He was going to prepare everything for this one which was to be like Him. Created in His image and likeness, He placed His blessings upon us.
From the very beginning, we operated under a covenant with God. A covenant that made us in His image and likeness; a covenant that never will be rescinded and never will be changed. Covenants are not those things that are changeable; they are permanent. God's covenants are there to help us understand His commitment, His loyalty, and His love for us. God understood the weakness of man. He understood the problems that man was facing. When man disobeyed God, when he broke the covenant that God had given to him, man died a spiritual death. Over the years, God saw how man struggled and how that he could not rise up to be what God intended him to be.
In the Old Testament reading from Isaiah, God spoke to man and said, “I am giving to you a hope. The prophet speaks as God’s voice, “I am going to lay in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone, a foundation firmly planted.” For many of us, we look at this wording and say, “Okay, that is nice. It is going to be strong.” He is talking about Christ. He is talking about that very essence of what the kingdom is all about. His covenant with us; His commitment to us – a stone tested. It is one that can be easily destroyed or done away with. It is has been tested and proven. It will not grow weak; it is a costly cornerstone.
Yes, it cost God a lot to give up His Son. Not only to give up His relationship with the Son on a temporal basis, but also to give up His Son to take upon Himself the sin of all mankind. It was to be a foundation – something very solid, firmly placed, firmly planted. It will not waver and be shaken.
In today’s world, we question the things of God. We question God’s truth and commitment. We wonder where He is. We blame Him for so many things, and yet God is stable. God is unmovable. God does not waver. He does not change. Scriptures says, “He is the same yesterday, today and forever.” If there is ever a hope, if there is ever a security, it can only come in Him because everything else changes. Everything else is subject to change, but God does not change. God does not waver. His words spoken in the beginning are still the same today.
When God spoke to man, when He blessed man to be fruitful and to multiply, He meant that. That blessing, as covenantal prayers, is still in existence over our lives today if we will receive and believe. God does not change. He says, “He who believes will not be disturbed and will not be shaken.” We know our God; we know His ways. He demonstrates this through Christ. He sent Christ to show us how powerful and how diligent to make certain things were right as it would be.
The evidence of this relationship is justice. Justice will be the main line of His relationship with us. He will not condemn us, but instead He restores and brings to us new life. Having sent Christ to take away the sin and the iniquity, now, we have this new life in Him. “Then hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies…and your covenant with death shall be canceled.” This is what He has done in our behalf. This is the security of that which we have.
In Hebrews, it says that they are coming to a mountain not to be stoned as it was in the early times. When Moses went up to the mountain, nobody could come near. Even an animal that would come to the mountain would die. “You are not coming to that kind of a mountain. You are coming to Mt. Zion, the city of the living God.” We are brought into a hope, an assurance, and an elite situation. This is what He has prepared for us – the heavenly Jerusalem, the spirit of the saints, the righteous men made perfect, and a kingdom that cannot be shaken. This is the evidence of what He has prepared for each of us. He has prepared that which is awesome and great. His provision is unfailing and unlimited.
The gospel talks about a door being closed and people banging on the door trying to get in. God denies that He knows them. For many of us, we would look at this and we would say, “What is this? I thought that God was a God of love, compassion, mercy and grace? Why would He close the door and not accept those wanting to come in? Why would He not allow that?” If we go through culture and history, we get a different picture of this. We see that God has set a course for mankind. He tells us, “We are changing from glory to glory into His image.” It is a progression that we go through. It is a step by step walk with Him. We don’t instantly enter into the fullness of our gifts from Him or the kingdom that He has prepared for us. It is a journey that we are on. It is a journey that takes time and effort, but God wants us to understand that the door is open to us. He has provided; He has made it available.
If you look carefully at Luke 13, it says, "He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. Someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter by the narrow door.” It wasn’t important how many. That was not what Christ wanted the people to think about. He wanted them to understand “how”. How would people enter in to this kingdom? How would they come to this point? He says, “Come, strive to enter the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us!” then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’”
See what they are saying to Him. These are not unbelievers, but people who were following Christ. If we would compare this to the Church today, these are the ones who take the Eucharist; the one who sits in Church and listen to the teachings. These were not strangers, outsiders, but people who were working toward a relationship with Christ. Very obviously, they did not take the relationship very seriously. The door has been closed because they were not ready to take that last step. That last step was a relationship with Christ. It was the banquet of the bride and the groom. They were not ready to give off themselves to such an intensity of being the bride.
Ephesians talks about husband and wife relationship. It talks about the responsibilities that are in that relationship – the love that is necessary and the respect that has to be between the two. Then, it completes that statement by saying, “I am not talking about husband and wife, but Christ and the Church.” This door was the door that entered into that relationship that allowed mankind to set the feast of the bride and groom and to be a part of it. They were not willing to take the price. They were not willing to give of their all to come there. Remember, the door was narrow. You cannot bring in all your interests. You can’t bring in all the things that you want. There are things that are required.
Christ is the door. He sets the principles. He sets the way. The way is narrow; it is not broad. We think that is so old-fashioned that we have to be so confined in our thoughts and in our beliefs. Yet, it is not that it is cruel, not that it is difficult. Remember, Jesus said, “My ways are easy. My yoke is light.” We have made it difficult because we lived in a society wherein everything is an open door. We don’t have to limit ourselves to anyone thing. We can believe what we want. We can do what we want. There is very little that is banned and forbidden in today’s societies.
In the kingdom of God, there is one way and Christ is that way. Our faith and our confidence in Him is so valuable and so important that we have to set all other things aside. Christ has to be the center, the very foundation of our lives if we are going to be able to enter that door. That door is closed because the ones on the outside were not willing to pay the price. They were not willing to be what God wanted them to be. They were not willing to take the responsibilities, wanting to do things their own way.
Someone told me once, “I come to the Cathedral and I listen to the teachings. I end up with oppression because I have so many responsibilities, so much obligations that I am expected to make. I can’t handle all of that. I just want to be given the ability to just do whatever. Everything is fine.” The person added, “I like the gospel of grace because in grace, God’s grace is sufficient for me.” Grace is good. God’s grace is excellent, but that grace won’t work if you are not working toward the kingdom of God. If you are not assuming your responsibilities, the grace is not going to help. The grace of God is there for those who are striving, who are not making it, and who are falling short.
We are so deceived today in the world that we want no responsibilities. We want no cares; we want no obligations. We think, “Okay, I believe in God. I believe in Christ. I take my Eucharist. God will take care of me, and then, I go and do my own thing.” How many times, when we leave the Church, can we even remember what the homily was about? Can we remember the challenges that were brought to us or do we see them too difficult or too heavy? Do we not see the love and the compassion of God bringing us away from the ways of destruction? The way that is broad leads to end. The narrow way leads us into the kingdom of God.
Not ‘how’, but it is ‘how Christ’ has set the course and the direction. These, who were knocking at the door, were part of the Church. They were part of the believers. They had listened to the homilies. They had taken of the Eucharist. They thought, “This was going to be enough for me. I don’t need to live it out. I don’t need to change my lifestyle. I don’t need to care for others. I don’t need to love as God said we need to love.”
John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” It doesn't matter how many social activities we have. It doesn’t matter how much money we make. It doesn't matter how big our house is. It doesn’t matter how many people we have helped. The only way to the Father is through Christ. Christ is the center of all things.
Ephesians 2:20, “Christ Jesus, the Cornerstone.” St. Ignatius of Antioch said, “This is the medicine of immortality. It is the Eucharist.” It is getting to know Him; understanding when we partake of the Eucharist; what its purpose is. Understanding the sacrifice that was given in our behalf so that we can be set free from the sin, be set free from the condemnation and the guilt and have the joy and the peace that comes in knowing God and knowing the greatness of God.
Ezekiel 37 is the story of the valley of dry bones. The prophet said to those bones, “Oh dry bones, hear the Word of the Lord.” Are we listening to God? Are we really paying attention to His greatness? We judge things so difficult and so impossible because we haven’t really taken time to study and understand what it is all about. We don’t realize how much He is reaching out to drive us, to bring us in. We don’t realize what He has done inside of us to open the door for our lives to be changed.
The hunger, the desires that God has placed within us are evidences that He is with us. We want to know more of Him. We want to make certain that we are ready for all that He has given to us. It is only then that we can come through that door into that banquet hall where we will sit down at that table that He has prepared for His bride. It doesn’t mean that those who were left on the outside of the door are lost. He just says, “They were evil.” He doesn’t send them into hell, but it just says, “You were wicked. You weren’t willing to pay the price. My Son gave His all for you. Will you not do the same? Will you not set aside the other interests that you have and let them be in second place rather than in first place in your lives?”
John 10:9 says, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved.” Verse 10, “I came that you might have life, and might have it abundantly.” Many of us are not walking in the fullness of life. We are still walking with one foot in the grave and one foot in life. We are not certain that we can survive if we give our all to Christ. We’ve got so much training and so much indoctrination into our lives that the world can bring us hope and provision. We don’t realize the deception.
It is much like Adam and Eve in the Garden. The deception of the enemy saying, “Oh, yes, what God has promised you, but you can be greater than God. You can be like Him.” They were already like Him. Christ has already given to us that which fulfills the principles of God’s creation. And yet, we are still trying to improve ourselves. We are still trying to be something greater, still trying to do more than what He has given to us to do.
Jesus says, “I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” Not just “life” but life in abundance. He says, “I am the good Shepherd.” The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The good shepherd doesn’t give the orders, the commands. The good shepherd gives his life. The good shepherd leads by his example. The good shepherd leads by the provision of his own life being seen as an example to others. It is the hireling who gives the orders and doesn’t follow. It is the hireling who pretends that he knows what he is doing, but he is never there when the test is made.
We must be ready to give of ourselves to be the witness. We are the witness of what Christ’s provision is in our lives. We are the provision for mankind so that they can know how great God is. The challenge for us: are we putting our faith in Him completely? When we take of the Eucharist, do we understand what we are taking? Or is it just something that we take because we are supposed to? Do we recognize the life that was given in order that we could eat of the body and drink of the blood? Do we understand the power of it and how that it strengthens us to be like Him? That we can stand in the midst of the tests and the trials, giving honor and glory to the greatness of our God? In Matthew 7, “Enter the narrow gate.” The wide gate and the broad way lead to destruction; the gate that is small, the way that is narrow, that leads to life.
I have come from a family that was relatively poor. Christmas for us was an apple and an orange. Those were treats. I had made up my mind as I grew up that I did not want my family to be raised that way. I did everything I could to make certain that my family had more than I had. One Christmas, we made up our mind, “This is what we are going to let them have – much.” We provided under the Christmas tree many, many gifts. I can’t tell you how many but it was many.
We watched them open. We were so proud to be able to give them so many things. When everything was opened, we were enjoying the situation until we realized that the boys were not playing with the toys. They were playing with the boxes. There was too much confusion because of all of the variety of gifts. They would go from one to another and finally give up and get something that was simple.
I believe that even today, in our lives, we’ve gotten so much given to us. We are so confused about what life is all about that we end up wasting our time and our efforts. We are wasting our talents and our abilities rather than focusing upon the gifts that God has given to us and accomplishing maybe only one thing that would be great. Putting our whole focus on one direction. It has been a fad for a number of years to just let children do whatever they want because you don’t want to destroy their creativity. Many times, children are so confused by things around them that instead of accomplishing things, they become frustrated, hard to please, and demanding of more.
We have much responsibility that God has given to us. Are we ready to take the responsibility? Are we ready to fulfill it? In the Old Testament, sin was so rampant. God told Noah to build the ark. For hundred years, they mocked Noah. They have never seen rain. They don’t know what rain was. They thought he was crazy. When God told Noah to get into the ark, he and the animals got into the ark and God closed the door.
When it began to rain, the people started knocking at the door and saying, “Open, open.” The door was closed. They could not open it. This is an Old Testament example of what the kingdom of God is – the salvation of God, the provision of God; but yet there comes a time when we have to make our decision. You can’t wait until the last minute.
God’s response is desiring for us to follow Him. We see this in this example today. Don't look at this and see it as fatal. This is not fatal; this is a challenge for us. This is God sharing with us so that we are not caught unaware. So that we understand and we know that He is looking to us to make a choice. “Are you going to follow Me or are you going to follow the ways of man?” “Are you going to be deceived thinking you have security in these things when in reality the only truth is in Christ?” The only truth that will last is in Him.
The challenge to us, as we are here in Ordinary Time: how are we walking this journey? How are we living out this life that He has given to us? Are we giving our best to Him or are we giving our best to ourselves? We are more concerned what affects us than what affects Christ. Do we embarrass Him? Do we bring shame to Him because we claim to be one of His, and yet we are not living it in the sight of others?
It is a challenge to us. These Scriptures have much for us today, but they are not meant for fear. They are not meant for anxiety. They are meant to guide us. This is the love of God. The love challenges us. The love corrects us. The love disciplines us. Scriptures says that without discipline, you are an illegitimate child. You are not loved because love wants to make certain that you are getting things right; that you know the difference between right and wrong.
This is what God wants for us. He shares with us that which is required for us. Make a choice; make a decision. Don’t be left on the outside. In Revelation, it tells how that when the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven, on the outside is the dogs. They will be able to look in; they will be able to see what is going on inside, but they will not be able to enjoy it because they have not made that final decision. They are not lost, but just that they are not in the height of that which Christ has intended for all – the bride.
Marriage is an institution which much honor. God created marriage. God intended marriage to be held high with great respect. The world has belittled marriage. Same sex marriage is mocking God, making fun of Him like He doesn’t know what He is doing. Marriage was God’s kingdom brought into reality. It is His way of propagating life. In our being, we want to be what God wants us to be.
We are challenged to see the picture. Make the choice. Do not be left on the outside knocking at the last minute. He is asking, “Who are you? I don’t know you.” This is because we didn’t put to action into our lives what He taught, what we ate and drank.
May we not be those on the outside, but may we be those who will find a place within, seated at the banquet of God. We are seated where He intends us to be and where He has prepared a place. Will that nameplate be left vacant at the banquet? Or will you be there to fulfill the place? It is up to us. Are we willing to pay the price? Are we willing to give our all to Him?
This is what He has given to us. This is the challenge today. He has prepared this for us. Tremendous preparation – stable; tested stone; permanent foundation; unwavering. He has made it sure and secure that it will not change. The rest will change in the world but not the kingdom of God. May we be alert and may we be aware of it.
LET US CONTINUE OUR REFLECTION
WITH
CARDINAL OF HOLY MOTHER CHURCH
AND
VENERABLE PRIMATE
OF THE PHILIPPINES
THROUGH
“God’s People Enter the Narrow Door”
August 25, 2013
The 14th Sunday of the Christian Season of Ordinary Time/Kingdomtide/Time of the Church
Isaiah 28: 14 - 22 /Psalm 46/Hebrews 12: 18-19; 22-29/ Luke 13: 22 - 30
His Eminence
The Most Reverend Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines D.D.
Archbishop of Manila
and
Primate
of the
National Church in the Philippines
and
the Territorial Church of Asia
International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church
The Scriptures for today could bring anxiety and fear into some hearts. Many times, when we read Scriptures, we only read the words; we do not understand the context, and neither do we understand the culture from which they came. The Scriptures were all written many hundreds of years ago. The culture at that time was much different than it is today.
If we read the Scriptures according to today’s culture, we will not understand God. Neither will we understand His ways. Sometimes, what is written in our language brings condemnation. When in reality, that is not God. God is a God of love, of compassion, and who operates under His covenant.
We have lost sight of covenant. We do not understand covenant today. Marriage is a covenant, and yet in many societies today, if not all societies today, marriage is just a limited experience. One legislator wanted to make it like a driver’s license that you have to renew it every so many years. We have devaluated the things of God. We pulled them down to common ordinary nothings. Then, we wonder why we have the problems around us today. Why do we have the turmoil, the pain, the sorrow? This is because we belittled or denied the things that God has given to us.
I would want us to understand right from the very beginning that God is a God of compassion and love. He would not have made this universe, the world, and all that it contains if He wasn’t a God of love. He wanted a companion. He was not just going to create an individual, but He was going to prepare everything for this one which was to be like Him. Created in His image and likeness, He placed His blessings upon us.
From the very beginning, we operated under a covenant with God. A covenant that made us in His image and likeness; a covenant that never will be rescinded and never will be changed. Covenants are not those things that are changeable; they are permanent. God's covenants are there to help us understand His commitment, His loyalty, and His love for us. God understood the weakness of man. He understood the problems that man was facing. When man disobeyed God, when he broke the covenant that God had given to him, man died a spiritual death. Over the years, God saw how man struggled and how that he could not rise up to be what God intended him to be.
In the Old Testament reading from Isaiah, God spoke to man and said, “I am giving to you a hope. The prophet speaks as God’s voice, “I am going to lay in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone, a foundation firmly planted.” For many of us, we look at this wording and say, “Okay, that is nice. It is going to be strong.” He is talking about Christ. He is talking about that very essence of what the kingdom is all about. His covenant with us; His commitment to us – a stone tested. It is one that can be easily destroyed or done away with. It is has been tested and proven. It will not grow weak; it is a costly cornerstone.
Yes, it cost God a lot to give up His Son. Not only to give up His relationship with the Son on a temporal basis, but also to give up His Son to take upon Himself the sin of all mankind. It was to be a foundation – something very solid, firmly placed, firmly planted. It will not waver and be shaken.
In today’s world, we question the things of God. We question God’s truth and commitment. We wonder where He is. We blame Him for so many things, and yet God is stable. God is unmovable. God does not waver. He does not change. Scriptures says, “He is the same yesterday, today and forever.” If there is ever a hope, if there is ever a security, it can only come in Him because everything else changes. Everything else is subject to change, but God does not change. God does not waver. His words spoken in the beginning are still the same today.
When God spoke to man, when He blessed man to be fruitful and to multiply, He meant that. That blessing, as covenantal prayers, is still in existence over our lives today if we will receive and believe. God does not change. He says, “He who believes will not be disturbed and will not be shaken.” We know our God; we know His ways. He demonstrates this through Christ. He sent Christ to show us how powerful and how diligent to make certain things were right as it would be.
The evidence of this relationship is justice. Justice will be the main line of His relationship with us. He will not condemn us, but instead He restores and brings to us new life. Having sent Christ to take away the sin and the iniquity, now, we have this new life in Him. “Then hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies…and your covenant with death shall be canceled.” This is what He has done in our behalf. This is the security of that which we have.
In Hebrews, it says that they are coming to a mountain not to be stoned as it was in the early times. When Moses went up to the mountain, nobody could come near. Even an animal that would come to the mountain would die. “You are not coming to that kind of a mountain. You are coming to Mt. Zion, the city of the living God.” We are brought into a hope, an assurance, and an elite situation. This is what He has prepared for us – the heavenly Jerusalem, the spirit of the saints, the righteous men made perfect, and a kingdom that cannot be shaken. This is the evidence of what He has prepared for each of us. He has prepared that which is awesome and great. His provision is unfailing and unlimited.
The gospel talks about a door being closed and people banging on the door trying to get in. God denies that He knows them. For many of us, we would look at this and we would say, “What is this? I thought that God was a God of love, compassion, mercy and grace? Why would He close the door and not accept those wanting to come in? Why would He not allow that?” If we go through culture and history, we get a different picture of this. We see that God has set a course for mankind. He tells us, “We are changing from glory to glory into His image.” It is a progression that we go through. It is a step by step walk with Him. We don’t instantly enter into the fullness of our gifts from Him or the kingdom that He has prepared for us. It is a journey that we are on. It is a journey that takes time and effort, but God wants us to understand that the door is open to us. He has provided; He has made it available.
If you look carefully at Luke 13, it says, "He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. Someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter by the narrow door.” It wasn’t important how many. That was not what Christ wanted the people to think about. He wanted them to understand “how”. How would people enter in to this kingdom? How would they come to this point? He says, “Come, strive to enter the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us!” then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’”
See what they are saying to Him. These are not unbelievers, but people who were following Christ. If we would compare this to the Church today, these are the ones who take the Eucharist; the one who sits in Church and listen to the teachings. These were not strangers, outsiders, but people who were working toward a relationship with Christ. Very obviously, they did not take the relationship very seriously. The door has been closed because they were not ready to take that last step. That last step was a relationship with Christ. It was the banquet of the bride and the groom. They were not ready to give off themselves to such an intensity of being the bride.
Ephesians talks about husband and wife relationship. It talks about the responsibilities that are in that relationship – the love that is necessary and the respect that has to be between the two. Then, it completes that statement by saying, “I am not talking about husband and wife, but Christ and the Church.” This door was the door that entered into that relationship that allowed mankind to set the feast of the bride and groom and to be a part of it. They were not willing to take the price. They were not willing to give of their all to come there. Remember, the door was narrow. You cannot bring in all your interests. You can’t bring in all the things that you want. There are things that are required.
Christ is the door. He sets the principles. He sets the way. The way is narrow; it is not broad. We think that is so old-fashioned that we have to be so confined in our thoughts and in our beliefs. Yet, it is not that it is cruel, not that it is difficult. Remember, Jesus said, “My ways are easy. My yoke is light.” We have made it difficult because we lived in a society wherein everything is an open door. We don’t have to limit ourselves to anyone thing. We can believe what we want. We can do what we want. There is very little that is banned and forbidden in today’s societies.
In the kingdom of God, there is one way and Christ is that way. Our faith and our confidence in Him is so valuable and so important that we have to set all other things aside. Christ has to be the center, the very foundation of our lives if we are going to be able to enter that door. That door is closed because the ones on the outside were not willing to pay the price. They were not willing to be what God wanted them to be. They were not willing to take the responsibilities, wanting to do things their own way.
Someone told me once, “I come to the Cathedral and I listen to the teachings. I end up with oppression because I have so many responsibilities, so much obligations that I am expected to make. I can’t handle all of that. I just want to be given the ability to just do whatever. Everything is fine.” The person added, “I like the gospel of grace because in grace, God’s grace is sufficient for me.” Grace is good. God’s grace is excellent, but that grace won’t work if you are not working toward the kingdom of God. If you are not assuming your responsibilities, the grace is not going to help. The grace of God is there for those who are striving, who are not making it, and who are falling short.
We are so deceived today in the world that we want no responsibilities. We want no cares; we want no obligations. We think, “Okay, I believe in God. I believe in Christ. I take my Eucharist. God will take care of me, and then, I go and do my own thing.” How many times, when we leave the Church, can we even remember what the homily was about? Can we remember the challenges that were brought to us or do we see them too difficult or too heavy? Do we not see the love and the compassion of God bringing us away from the ways of destruction? The way that is broad leads to end. The narrow way leads us into the kingdom of God.
Not ‘how’, but it is ‘how Christ’ has set the course and the direction. These, who were knocking at the door, were part of the Church. They were part of the believers. They had listened to the homilies. They had taken of the Eucharist. They thought, “This was going to be enough for me. I don’t need to live it out. I don’t need to change my lifestyle. I don’t need to care for others. I don’t need to love as God said we need to love.”
John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” It doesn't matter how many social activities we have. It doesn’t matter how much money we make. It doesn't matter how big our house is. It doesn’t matter how many people we have helped. The only way to the Father is through Christ. Christ is the center of all things.
Ephesians 2:20, “Christ Jesus, the Cornerstone.” St. Ignatius of Antioch said, “This is the medicine of immortality. It is the Eucharist.” It is getting to know Him; understanding when we partake of the Eucharist; what its purpose is. Understanding the sacrifice that was given in our behalf so that we can be set free from the sin, be set free from the condemnation and the guilt and have the joy and the peace that comes in knowing God and knowing the greatness of God.
Ezekiel 37 is the story of the valley of dry bones. The prophet said to those bones, “Oh dry bones, hear the Word of the Lord.” Are we listening to God? Are we really paying attention to His greatness? We judge things so difficult and so impossible because we haven’t really taken time to study and understand what it is all about. We don’t realize how much He is reaching out to drive us, to bring us in. We don’t realize what He has done inside of us to open the door for our lives to be changed.
The hunger, the desires that God has placed within us are evidences that He is with us. We want to know more of Him. We want to make certain that we are ready for all that He has given to us. It is only then that we can come through that door into that banquet hall where we will sit down at that table that He has prepared for His bride. It doesn’t mean that those who were left on the outside of the door are lost. He just says, “They were evil.” He doesn’t send them into hell, but it just says, “You were wicked. You weren’t willing to pay the price. My Son gave His all for you. Will you not do the same? Will you not set aside the other interests that you have and let them be in second place rather than in first place in your lives?”
John 10:9 says, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved.” Verse 10, “I came that you might have life, and might have it abundantly.” Many of us are not walking in the fullness of life. We are still walking with one foot in the grave and one foot in life. We are not certain that we can survive if we give our all to Christ. We’ve got so much training and so much indoctrination into our lives that the world can bring us hope and provision. We don’t realize the deception.
It is much like Adam and Eve in the Garden. The deception of the enemy saying, “Oh, yes, what God has promised you, but you can be greater than God. You can be like Him.” They were already like Him. Christ has already given to us that which fulfills the principles of God’s creation. And yet, we are still trying to improve ourselves. We are still trying to be something greater, still trying to do more than what He has given to us to do.
Jesus says, “I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” Not just “life” but life in abundance. He says, “I am the good Shepherd.” The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The good shepherd doesn’t give the orders, the commands. The good shepherd gives his life. The good shepherd leads by his example. The good shepherd leads by the provision of his own life being seen as an example to others. It is the hireling who gives the orders and doesn’t follow. It is the hireling who pretends that he knows what he is doing, but he is never there when the test is made.
We must be ready to give of ourselves to be the witness. We are the witness of what Christ’s provision is in our lives. We are the provision for mankind so that they can know how great God is. The challenge for us: are we putting our faith in Him completely? When we take of the Eucharist, do we understand what we are taking? Or is it just something that we take because we are supposed to? Do we recognize the life that was given in order that we could eat of the body and drink of the blood? Do we understand the power of it and how that it strengthens us to be like Him? That we can stand in the midst of the tests and the trials, giving honor and glory to the greatness of our God? In Matthew 7, “Enter the narrow gate.” The wide gate and the broad way lead to destruction; the gate that is small, the way that is narrow, that leads to life.
I have come from a family that was relatively poor. Christmas for us was an apple and an orange. Those were treats. I had made up my mind as I grew up that I did not want my family to be raised that way. I did everything I could to make certain that my family had more than I had. One Christmas, we made up our mind, “This is what we are going to let them have – much.” We provided under the Christmas tree many, many gifts. I can’t tell you how many but it was many.
We watched them open. We were so proud to be able to give them so many things. When everything was opened, we were enjoying the situation until we realized that the boys were not playing with the toys. They were playing with the boxes. There was too much confusion because of all of the variety of gifts. They would go from one to another and finally give up and get something that was simple.
I believe that even today, in our lives, we’ve gotten so much given to us. We are so confused about what life is all about that we end up wasting our time and our efforts. We are wasting our talents and our abilities rather than focusing upon the gifts that God has given to us and accomplishing maybe only one thing that would be great. Putting our whole focus on one direction. It has been a fad for a number of years to just let children do whatever they want because you don’t want to destroy their creativity. Many times, children are so confused by things around them that instead of accomplishing things, they become frustrated, hard to please, and demanding of more.
We have much responsibility that God has given to us. Are we ready to take the responsibility? Are we ready to fulfill it? In the Old Testament, sin was so rampant. God told Noah to build the ark. For hundred years, they mocked Noah. They have never seen rain. They don’t know what rain was. They thought he was crazy. When God told Noah to get into the ark, he and the animals got into the ark and God closed the door.
When it began to rain, the people started knocking at the door and saying, “Open, open.” The door was closed. They could not open it. This is an Old Testament example of what the kingdom of God is – the salvation of God, the provision of God; but yet there comes a time when we have to make our decision. You can’t wait until the last minute.
God’s response is desiring for us to follow Him. We see this in this example today. Don't look at this and see it as fatal. This is not fatal; this is a challenge for us. This is God sharing with us so that we are not caught unaware. So that we understand and we know that He is looking to us to make a choice. “Are you going to follow Me or are you going to follow the ways of man?” “Are you going to be deceived thinking you have security in these things when in reality the only truth is in Christ?” The only truth that will last is in Him.
The challenge to us, as we are here in Ordinary Time: how are we walking this journey? How are we living out this life that He has given to us? Are we giving our best to Him or are we giving our best to ourselves? We are more concerned what affects us than what affects Christ. Do we embarrass Him? Do we bring shame to Him because we claim to be one of His, and yet we are not living it in the sight of others?
It is a challenge to us. These Scriptures have much for us today, but they are not meant for fear. They are not meant for anxiety. They are meant to guide us. This is the love of God. The love challenges us. The love corrects us. The love disciplines us. Scriptures says that without discipline, you are an illegitimate child. You are not loved because love wants to make certain that you are getting things right; that you know the difference between right and wrong.
This is what God wants for us. He shares with us that which is required for us. Make a choice; make a decision. Don’t be left on the outside. In Revelation, it tells how that when the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven, on the outside is the dogs. They will be able to look in; they will be able to see what is going on inside, but they will not be able to enjoy it because they have not made that final decision. They are not lost, but just that they are not in the height of that which Christ has intended for all – the bride.
Marriage is an institution which much honor. God created marriage. God intended marriage to be held high with great respect. The world has belittled marriage. Same sex marriage is mocking God, making fun of Him like He doesn’t know what He is doing. Marriage was God’s kingdom brought into reality. It is His way of propagating life. In our being, we want to be what God wants us to be.
We are challenged to see the picture. Make the choice. Do not be left on the outside knocking at the last minute. He is asking, “Who are you? I don’t know you.” This is because we didn’t put to action into our lives what He taught, what we ate and drank.
May we not be those on the outside, but may we be those who will find a place within, seated at the banquet of God. We are seated where He intends us to be and where He has prepared a place. Will that nameplate be left vacant at the banquet? Or will you be there to fulfill the place? It is up to us. Are we willing to pay the price? Are we willing to give our all to Him?
This is what He has given to us. This is the challenge today. He has prepared this for us. Tremendous preparation – stable; tested stone; permanent foundation; unwavering. He has made it sure and secure that it will not change. The rest will change in the world but not the kingdom of God. May we be alert and may we be aware of it.
WITH
CARDINAL OF HOLY MOTHER CHURCH
AND
VENERABLE PRIMATE
OF THE PHILIPPINES
THROUGH
THROUGH
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