HOMILY FOR THE 21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C (3)

HOMILY FOR THE 21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

THEME: TRY YOUR BEST TO ENTER BY THE
NARROW DOOR”

BY: Fr. Cajetan Anyanwu

HOMILY FOR SUNDAY AUGUST 21 2022

This is the 21st Sunday in ordinary time. The Pope’s idea of Synodality entails, carrying everyone a

HOMILY FOR THE 21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

THEME: TRY YOUR BEST TO ENTER BY THE
NARROW DOOR”

BY: Fr. Cajetan Anyanwu

HOMILY FOR SUNDAY AUGUST 21 2022

 

 

This is the 21st Sunday in ordinary time. The Pope’s idea of Synodality entails, carrying everyone along. Making sure that no one is left out in the mainstream of the Church’s effort to reach all God’s children. This entails gathering and welcoming all and not thinking that some people should be saved while others should perish. For the Lord says: “I am coming to gather the nations of every language. They will see my glory” (Is.66:18-21). Thus, the Kingdom of heaven is not just for a selected few, it is meant for all no matter one’s race or nationality.

However, to enter the Kingdom entails suffering. It is not just as easy as holding a peice of pizza and drinking red wine in a bar. It means that one must make effort, for the Lord corrects our faults. The letter to the Hebrews says, “My son, when the Lord corrects you, do not treat it lightly…. Suffering is part of your training; God is treating you as his sons” (Heb.12:5-7.11-13). This shows that to enter the Kingdom of heaven requires suffering. The narrow door is not an easy road.

For this reason, Jesus told the man who asked him, ‘Sir, will there be only a few saved?’ “Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed” (Lk. 13:22-30). The narrow door here does not mean bribing your way into heaven. It does not imply playing tricks or pranks. It means passing through suffering, sacrificing most things you enjoy in order to see heaven. It warns us not to take the fact of our being nominal Christians for granted. Any mistake of not being fit for the kingdom can lead one into losing it. Thus, “the first will be last and the last will be first.” As a true child of God, do not follow the crowd. Be yourself and try to do the right thing at the right time.

Happy Sunday.

Discover more from Catholic For Life

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading