The scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB
As we get closer to the end of the liturgical year, the gospel readings are focusing more so on the end-times. Today we hear people asking, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" (Luke 13:23) They seem to me to be more worried about other people entering heaven rather than their own relationship with God. The Lord then teaches to enter through the "narrow gate." (Luke 13:24) This, I believe, teaches us to remain focused on the Lord, and to be sincere in our love for God and for others. We're not to worry about other people's relationship with God, but rather our own motivation in following Jesus. It's not always easy to do, but it's what the Lord is calling us to do.
Jesus would go on to mention about the hypocrites who claimed to be his followers but were not sincere in their love for God. They claimed to have eaten and drank in his company. The Lord's response? "‘I do not know where [you] are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’" (Luke 13:27)
The Lord in today's gospel is teaching us to check our motivation in being His followers. Are we doing so just because we're trying to buy our way into heaven? Or are we doing so out of true love of God and neighbor. Being a follower of Jesus Christ is not easy. In order to follow the Lord, we need to pick up our crosses and follow him. It's not easy, like going through a wide gate, but rather, we are to walk carefully through the narrow gate. We need to remain focused on the Lord and our love for Him and following his commands of always loving God and loving our neighbors. It is in this way that others may see our sincere love of God, and then they themselves may feel drawn to act in a way pleasing to God. Is it easy? No! But certainly, it'll have great rewards.
Thanks for your comments, Arelene. Yes, we should be concerned about other people's salvation, but not so much concerned about their salvation that we ignore our own motives and love of God. In my conclusion I did write: "It is in this way that others may see our sincere love of God, and then they themselves may feel drawn to act in a way pleasing to God." In this way we can be assured of our salvation and other show concern for others without judging them.
ReplyDeleteFrom Arlene B. Muller
ReplyDeleteObviously there are at least two things we must do. If we are concerned that someone has gone astray or might not be right with GOD, we need to pray for him/her/them, because GOD knows & loves him/her/them better than we do & GOD can do for him/her/them what we cannot, through the action of His Holy Spirit.
Second, we must focus on being right with GOD ourselves, obeying His commandments & the commandments of the Church, especially in loving GOD & others & in allowing GOD to develop the fruit of the Holy Spirit in us. When others see the witness of our lives they hopefully will be drawn closer to GOD & hopefully motivated to correct whatever is keeping them away with being right with GOD.
In addition, we can invite him/her/them to Church & encourage him/her/them to come without nagging. We also need to be willing & able to share our faith personally without "preaching".
There may be times when the Holy Spirit inspires & instructs us to say something in the way of exhortation--isn't that true?