Homily for the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Don’t Take Your Salvation For Granted!

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

August 21, 2016

On the first anniversary of the death of Princess Diana (August 31, 1998), many British newspapers came out with the bold headline, “Where is the Soul of Princess Diana?” The papers were reporting the story that some mothers in England had withdrawn their children from one Evangelical Sunday school because the Sunday school teachers had taught the kids that the soul of Princess Diana was in hell, whereas the kids had already been told by their mothers that the Princess’ soul was in heaven. This development prompted many British newspapers to pose the question, “Where is the Soul of Princess Diana?” Now, suppose Jesus was on earth today and a reporter went to him and ask him, “Where is the soul of the Princess? What do you think would be his answer? I believe that Jesus would look the reporter in the eye and say, “Try and save your own soul now that you still have the chance and stop wondering where the soul of the Princess had gone.” 

That is very similar to what happened in today’s Gospel. Jesus was passing through some towns and villages, teaching and making his way to Jerusalem when someone interrupted him and asked, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” (Luke 13:33) What did Jesus say in reply? “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” (verse 24). It’s very clear that Jesus did not answer the question: “Will only a few be saved?” Instead, he answered a more important question, “How can I be saved?”

When it comes to issues of faith and salvation, we can either ask curiosity questions or relevant questions. While curiosity questions are asked just to obtain information, facts and figures that may not affect our salvation in one way or another, relevant questions about salvation are asked in order to obtain truths that ultimately leads to salvation. A curiosity question about salvation can be fascinating, and oftentimes can make headlines too, but a relevant question, which is an honest quest for the truth, can set one free to hunger and thirst for God. Search the Gospels and you will find out that Jesus never had time for questions of curiosity. Whenever he was asked a question of mere curiosity, he never answered it, but he would use the occasion to give an answer to a relevant question that such person should have asked. The question, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” is a typical question of curiosity. It’s not a relevant question. If you know the answer, how will it affect your salvation in any away? So, instead of spending his precious time to address a not-so-relevant question, he turned his attention to something much more relevant, “Strive to enter through the narrow the door…” which means, make effort, try and be saved because many people will attempt to enter through it, but will not be spiritually strong enough to squeeze themselves in.  Questions of curiosity have a special appeal to the news media and to popular imagination, but it does not necessarily lead to faith or increase in it. Questions like, When will the world come to an end? When is Armageddon coming? Who is the Anti-Christ? What is the meaning of 666? When will the rapture take place? Will Muslims or Buddhists be saved? Did Hitler make heaven? Where’s the soul of Princess Diana etc are all questions of curiosity. Jesus was never interested in answering such questions. Before his Ascension, his disciples had asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” Instead of saying yes or no, or may be, Jesus said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:6-8). 

Sisters and brothers, it is a waste of breath to ask, “Where is the soul of Princess Diana?” It is a waste of time to wonder if Adolf Hitler was saved. Don’t spend your time wondering or asking where the soul of famous people like Michael Jackson or Whitney Houston had gone. Don’t spend your time wondering whether people of other faith would be saved. Instead of asking, “Where is the soul of Princess Diana?” Ask, “Will I be saved?” Instead of asking when the end would come, ask, “What do I need to do to be saved?” Ask, “How can I serve God better in my present situation of life?” Ask, “How can I make the best use of opportunities God has given to me here and now for my eternal salvation?” Ask, “How can I love God above all things and love my neighbor as Jesus loves me?” Ask, “How can I better my life today for the glory of God?” These are the relevant questions to ask. These questions ultimately bring us closer to God.

Those who are interested in asking curiosity questions that don't impact their lives will stand at the door of the Kingdom knocking and saying, “Lord, open the door for us.” But they would be told: “I do not know where you are from.” On hearing that they would argue, “But we ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets?” But they would finally be told, “Depart from me, all you evildoers.” Surely, these folks ate and drank in the company of the Lord, but right after that, they refused to follow him; they refused practice the Word of God. Right after eating and drinking with the Lord, they went away and didn't come back again. Their excuse is, “I am very busy and don’t have the time.” When it comes to managing time, it is always God’s time that is often reduced and cut short. Time with God is always the time that is always sacrificed. And after being ungenerous with our time for the things of God, we convince ourselves that we are still on track, that we are headed to the right direction, that we will make heaven, that we are heaven-bound. 

The summary of today’s Gospel is this, “Don’t take your salvation for granted.” Take Jesus seriously! Take the Word of God seriously! This call is an urgent one. Time is running and may be running out! If we haven’t made a decision, let’s do it today. I do not want to scare you. But I also do not want to stand before Jesus and be told that I did not do a good job of telling people what they should have been told from the pulpit. Once again I say, “Do not take your salvation for granted.” In Philippians 2:12, St. Paul says: “...work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Never assumed that your salvation is assured and guaranteed. Remember, it is not over until it is over!