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

Will Only A Few People Be Saved?

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

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

Church of St. Bridget of Minneapolis, MN

Sunday, August 24, 

The question of “How many people will be saved?” is one of the most debated topics out there. People have strong opinions about it. Some believe that everyone will be saved, insisting that a merciful, loving, and compassionate God would not let any of His children perish. Some Church Fathers, such as Origen, explored the concept known as “apocatastasis” or universal salvation. However, it was officially condemned as heresy by the Synod of Constantinople in 543 AD. The Catholic Church stresses that, while God desires everyone’s salvation, each person has the free will to accept or reject God’s grace and eternal life. Some believe that no one will be saved, meaning humanity is doomed with no hope for anyone. Others say only a small number of people will be saved. When I was coming of age, I heard Jehovah's Witnesses promote this view, teaching that only 144,000 will go to heaven to reign with Christ. As for how they arrived at that number, I have no idea. Still, some teach that most people will be saved. When people argue these points, they often cite saints or scripture to support their views. 

In today’s Gospel (Luke 13:22-30), we learn that Jesus was traveling through towns and villages when someone in the crowd asked Him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” What is His response? “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will try to enter but will not be able.” Did Jesus answer the question? No. Why not? Because the question isn’t the right one. The person asking is avoiding the real question. The real question was the one the Philippian jailer asked St. Paul, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). It was also the question a young rich man asked Jesus, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). Jesus didn’t answer the question because it concerns people in general, and not directed to oneself. How does knowing the number of people in heaven help? 

Does hell exist? Absolutely yes. I have been there before, and you have been there too. It is the suffering that comes from resisting God’s love. It begins here. The doctrine about hell is based on two core truths: that God is love and that we are free. Love, which means “willing the good of the other,” is what God is at His core. God is not like us. He does not fall in and out of love. He does not go in and out of love. God does not change His mind. He does not love some people and hates others. In Jesus' words, God is like the sun shining on the good, the bad, and the ugly alike. No words, actions, failures, or disappointments of ours can make God stop loving us. But we are free to accept His love and friendship. With our freedom, we can respond to that love or resist it. When we resist, we suffer. We can suffer here on Earth and in the afterlife. Regarding the nature of this suffering, the Church uses several metaphors, one of which is fire. Fire symbolizes the intense pain caused by resisting God’s love. As I mentioned earlier, it begins here. But are there people in that eschatological hell? Are there people in that final place of intense suffering, where God’s love has been rejected from one’s very being forever and always? It is possible, but I can’t say that with certainty. 

If you notice, the Catholic Church canonizes some people to recognize that they are in heaven. But there is no opposite acknowledgment or canonization for those in hell. That means we don’t know for sure if certain persons are in hell. You might ask: What about Hitler, Stalin, Idi Amin, Emperor Nero, etc.? Yes, we know these people lived terrible lives and were awful. But we have no idea what happened in their final moments. We have no understanding of what happened deep within their minds, wills, and consciences before they died. We cannot say definitively that there was no regret or remorse before their death. That is why the Church does not declare that anyone is in hell. That’s also why some prominent Catholic theologians, like St. Pope John Paul II, Hans Urs von Balthasar, and Bishop Robert Barron, have expressed hope that everyone might be saved. We can only hope that all people will be saved. However, hope should not be confused with knowledge, certainty, or expectation. Do I know that everyone is saved? No. That would be heresy—heresy of apocatastasis. Do I expect everyone to be saved? No. Hope is different from expecting. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “In hope the Church prays for the salvation of all.” Is it likely that everyone will be saved? Absolutely not! Just look around at the world. Consider the level of mankind’s inhumanity toward one another. Observe the mockery of God in today’s society. Imagine the blatant injustice, corruption, and greed displayed by many. 

Sisters and brothers, God is love. He loves us immensely and forever. However, He grants us free will. With that freedom, we can choose to accept Him or reject Him. We are not His puppets. He does not force anyone to be His friend. We can choose to accept His love or decline it. Like a sunflower that follows the movement of the sun, when we turn toward God’s love, we open up like a sunflower and flourish. We are saved. But if we turn away, we get burned. If you're wondering where your departed loved ones—mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, a classmate, a former president, Princess Diana, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, etc.—are, Jesus’ answer is: Mind your damn business. Don’t worry about all that. Knowing where they are won’t significantly affect your salvation. Instead, strive and focus on your effort. Keep your feet grounded in faith. Don’t play God. Don’t take your faith lightly. Don’t base your salvation on “I hope I'm saved.” Trust your life completely to God’s hands. When Jesus says to those who fail to enter, “I do not know where you are from,” he is saying, “I don’t see my life in your soul.” I tell you, the worst thing to hear after earthly life is, “I do not know where you are from.” Remember, simply being good isn’t enough. We must submit to the Lordship of Jesus.