Twenty-First Sunday of the Year (Year C)

Twenty-First Sunday of the Year August 21, 2022

Isaiah 66:18-21; Hebrews 12:5-7.11-13; Luke 13:22-30

(image courtesy: Google)

On August 31, 1998, the first anniversary of the death of Princess Diana, many papers came out with the headline "Where is the Soul of Princess Diana." They were reporting the story that some women in England had withdrawn their children from an Evangelical Sunday school because the Sunday school teachers were teaching the kids that the soul of Princess Diana was in hell, whereas the women had already told their children that the soul of the Princess was in heaven? As a result, the question, "Where is the soul of Princess Diana?" became an issue. A popular radio station in Toronto went as far as to interview the Archdeacon of the Anglican Diocese to find out exactly the whereabouts of Princess Diana's soul.

Suppose Jesus was on earth today and a reporter went to him and asked him, "Where is Princess Diana's soul?" what would be his answer? I think Jesus would look the reporter in the eye and tell him or her, "Try and save your own soul now that you still have the chance."

This is exactly what is happening in today's gospel. Jesus is going through the towns and villages teaching and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone interrupts him and asks, "Lord, will only a few be saved?"(Luke 13:33). What does Jesus answer? "My friend, strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able" (v. 24). We see that Jesus is not really answering the man's question: "Will only a few be saved?" In fact, he is answering a more important question, "How can I be saved?"

Today’s scripture readings invite us to recognize our failures, not only in deeds but also in attitudes. They invite us to call on the Lord and seek his forgiveness. The Gospel of today tells us that salvation is not automatic. It requires cooperation and perseverance on our part to secure the kingdom of heaven.   The Gospel tells us that there should be the willingness to enter through the narrow gate.

The Sermon on the Mount, however beautiful, however majestic, is not meant to be marveled at. It is meant to be obeyed. We can marvel at it and we should. When Jesus finished this teaching, the people who heard Him were amazed and it's good to be amazed. But we need to go past amazement, we need to go into obedience. This is the first opportunity that Jesus gives us to directly respond to His commands. Jesus is getting His hearers ready for judgment day,  so He sets before them here two gates and two roads.

The poem by Robert Frost will help us understand the scripture in a better way:

The Road Not Taken

BY ROBERT FROST

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

 

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

 

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

 

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

 

Happy Sunday