Reflection for August 24, 21th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:22-30

Gospel: Luke 13:22-30

Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.  

After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’

Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out.  

And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.

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Reflection:

Where would we end up after our temporary journey in this world is over? This is a question that none of us can answer with certainty. We do not truly know what awaits us; however, Jesus lovingly gives us a glimpse—a promise—of where we may go. If we choose to follow Him faithfully and wholeheartedly, we will find ourselves in His eternal kingdom, in the company of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets who have gone before us. 

Yet following the path of Jesus is never easy. It demands sacrifice, self-denial, and a heart willing to let go of what the world clings to. Are we willing to part with our wealth—or even a portion of it—so that others may live with dignity? 

 Are we ready to give up a high-paying job if it means we can serve the poor and the marginalized? Can we swallow our pride and extend our hand to those we have hurt or those who have hurt us? Are we prepared to abandon the habits, attachments, or relationships that lead us into sin? These are only a few of the many sacrifices we must embrace if we truly wish to walk in the footsteps of Christ. 

A life with Jesus is not about indulging in earthly trappings or seeking comfort in temporary pleasures. Rather, it is about doing away with whatever is sinful and fleeting, and embracing what draws us closer to Him. It is about discarding anything that distances us from His love. If our circle of friends, our lifestyle, or our desires pull us farther away from Jesus, then we must have the courage to let them go so that we may dwell nearer to Him. 

To follow Christ is to surrender everything at His feet, trusting that in losing ourselves, we gain eternity. In sacrificing what the world holds dear, we discover the true riches of heaven: peace that endures, joy that cannot be taken away, and a love that is everlasting. 

May we never forget that every sacrifice made for Jesus is never wasted. For what we give up in this life, He will return a hundredfold in His kingdom. – Marino J. Dasmarinas