XXI SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
THE LAST WILL BE FIRST
By our Pastor, Fr. Carmelo Jimenez
Several Sundays of the Gospel of Luke have led us to the big questions that today’s Gospel brings us: how many will be saved? Who will be saved? Jesus destroys the walls that we constantly put up between us and others. We constantly create cultural divisions and see each other as inferior. God loves all people, Jews and non-Jews, and he loves us before and independently of us loving Him.
Our Parish Mission Statement says: “St. Michael’s Catholic Church, a people of diverse cultures and backgrounds, are brought together by God through the Gospel and the teachings of the Church.” A few weeks ago a person from another parish came to visit us and he stayed for Spanish Mass. During the homily, I regularly say a phrase and Baltazar, a brother from Guatemala, translates to Kanj’oval so our brothers and sisters who don’t understand Spanish can understand. That person was amazed to see that we get together in a Mass of many peoples and languages. “They shall proclaim my glory among the nations. They shall bring all your kin from all the nations as an offering to the LORD.” (Is 66: 19b-20a) The project of gathering all peoples and nations is a promise of God from the beginning of the world. God wants salvation to reach all peoples. That is why it is essential in our time to proclaim that God blesses all projects that lead to peace, justice and solidarity among peoples.
“Someone asked him, ‘Lord, will only a few people be saved?’” (Lk 13: 23) The gospel does not specify who is it that asked the question, but it is one of the great concerns of all humanity. In his answer Jesus presents himself as a demanding offer for everyone. Men in their human experience are faced with the impossibility to attain salvation. So, we must turn our eyes to the divine, and in the sacred scriptures we find hope. The New Testament says that God wants all men to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus gives the key principle: “Many are called but few are chosen,” (Mt 22:14) which could be interpreted as: all are invited to partake of salvation but unfortunately not everyone responds.
“And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” (Lk 13: 29-30). Luke emphasizes Jesus’ offer to us as his most important recommendation. He emphasizes mercy, kindness and love of God, but also insists on practical and concrete demands of the Gospel, so we can achieve the promise of salvation. God has many ways of leading humanity to Christ, the universal Savior. To attain salvation involves the free human response to God. We need to get the right door. Those who have the privilege of knowing the Gospel and Jesus through it, are invited to know Jesus better, his person, his gestures and words, and to take their salvation seriously.
May each of us decide to follow Jesus Christ, serve him and love him. May we take our salvation seriously, which is a free gift from God but implies our commitment to His Son. May God give us the grace of perseverance in faith, unity and charity.