21st Sunday in Ordinary Time / C
22/08/2010
Luke 13, 22-30 (p. 421)
"Lord, there will he few people be saved? "The question posed to Jesus the unknown is the salvation of mankind. It is therefore a key issue and serious. If original sin for us and our sins are realities, realities that separate us from God or draw us away from him, we know from experience how much we need to be saved. This question is on the number of rescued creatures: are there many or not? Even if Jesus does not directly answer this question, it remains an unavoidable issue for the Christian. Jesus is en route to Jerusalem, he goes to his sacrifice for just the forgiveness of sins and salvation. When the institution of the Eucharist he will deliver these significant words: "This is my blood, the blood of the covenant which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins." The blood of the Son of God, poured out for many as another translation, he will obtain the salvation of mankind, or only one of a select few ? Throughout the history of Christianity optimists and pessimists have given their interpretation. Here Jesus says that access is difficult at hello: "Strive to enter through the narrow gate." He did not answer the question of the number of elected officials. But the parallel passage in Matthew seems to be leaning in the direction of "pessimistic"
Enter through the narrow gate. She is tall, the door is wide, the road to perdition: and they are many who enter through it. But it is close the door, it is tightened, the path that leads to life, and they are few, those that find it.
In Matthew when the Lord says the difficulty for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, the disciples also raise the question of salvation: "Then who can be saved? "And their Lord answered:" For men this is impossible, but for God everything is possible. " Thus we see by browsing through the Gospels that the question of salvation is approached differently depending on context. The Gospel of this day reminds us not all go to Heaven automatically. We must use our freedom to the will of God, that is to say, enter through the narrow gate, to get there. At the same time the kingdom of God is not part of human rights is a gift from God and only God can take us there through His Son Jesus our only Savior.
The second part of our Gospel can be understood only in light of its conclusion: "There are last who will be first, and first who will be last." In his teaching Jesus gives us the decisive test of the value of our human life in God's eyes. Some take comfort on the cheap: "We ate and drank in your presence, and thou hast taught in our streets." Again the version of St. Matthew complements the words of Jesus:
that day, many will say: 'Lord, Lord, is it not in thy name we have been prophets in your name we cast out demons in thy name we have done many miracles? " Then I will declare to them: 'I've never known. Stand back from me, you who are evil! " Who are these
first that may become final? Some Jews first of all that, out of pride (we are the chosen people, we have the temple) could forget the essential: the practice of goodness and justice. But some of us who are practicing Catholics ... If we forget that our faithfulness to church Sunday and prayer life must go hand in hand with our desire to put our lives in accord with the will of the Lord. We will not be judged by an hour in our week, but all our actions and daily choices. "Get away from me, all who do evil," or as another translation "you workers of injustice." The lesson of this Gospel could be: instead of you asking theological questions about the number of elected officials, act as the good and justice. It is not for you to know the date and time of the trial and the number of the saved. But I made you the gift of freedom so you can cooperate with your hello by your actions. Enter through the narrow gate is therefore to question, do not rest on its laurels, and understand that we do not naturally and instinctively good. We often treat us with violence in order not to fall into selfishness, hypocrisy, or religious pride of the first who are actually the last. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. So we come from the east and west, north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. Even if the Lord does not directly the question of numbers, it gives us hope of salvation for many. Some Jews will be saved and with them men of every race, language and nation. This reference to the geographical extension, included in the Apocalypse, we show that it is not in vain that Christ gave his life. Yes, hello it gives us is truly universal!
0 comments:
Post a Comment