The Universal call of Grace

Homily of the 21st Sunday in ordinary Time
By Fr Oluwafemi Victor Orilua CSSp.
Isaiah 66:18-21, Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13, Luke 13:22-30

Share
Share

The grace of God knows no boundary. It is not based on familiarity but on dedication and surrender. Though God often uses some people as instruments to reach others, he has no favorites. To be a servant of God or a bearer of his message is purely a gift of grace, which when taken for granted, brings no personal merit.

Moreover, when asked the question, “Who will be saved?” Jesus gave an unexpected response. Those who assume that church membership alone guarantees heaven will be disappointed. Likewise, those who believe mere acquaintance with the things of God grants automatic access will be surprised.

In the Gospel according to Luke 13:22–30, the Lord said:

“For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’”

Therefore, our judgment will not be based on the positions we occupied but on the works of our hands. God’s plan is to bring all nations back to himself (Isaiah 66:18–21). Hence, we must not count ourselves as the sole privileged children of God, nor allow the struggles of life to hold us back from our journey toward eternity.

At times, in our sojourn, God trains us through reproofs or other trials to bring out the best in us. We may feel abandoned when we stray from the way, but he never forsakes us. Instead, he disciplines those he loves, shaping us to be proficient in his work. We must not misunderstand his love.

Let us then remain focused on our journey toward eternity, even amidst our daily struggles.

May we find a place in Christ on the last day. Amen.

Share

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles

The challenges of Deciding for Christ

Following Christ brings friction and division, even among family. We must courageously...

Our Journey Back Home

Seeking meaning beyond material wealth and social teachings is our true calling....

When we Call God Father

When we call God "our Father," we enter a special relationship of...

Paying attention to those important details in Parables

Jesus uses parables to reveal the Kingdom of God's mysteries. He explains...