Luke 13:22-30
Dear Friends, Religion is always a many-sided issue. The weeds and the wheat are an ever-present concern. A lot of selfishness takes place in the name of Jesus. Often, what seems righteous is a search for personal grandiosity. St. Luke is very strong in presenting the theme of reversal which addresses the issue of spiritual self-seeking. Today, we close the Gospel with another expression of Luke’s often repeated theme of reversal, “For behold, some are last who will be first and, some are first, who will be last.” (Lk 13:30)
There are many who call themselves Christian and often image themselves as Christian warriors. Their main job is to attack the “sins” of others. Some are full time against abortion and homosexuals, others are crusaders against the racists and those opposing immigration reform. They are occupied completely pointing out how horrible other people are. Others make it a full time job finger pointing at certain people who do not follow the minor laws of the Church in the liturgy and sacraments.
A clear message in today’s gospel is that everybody is invited. However, we need to work at it; we need a personal responsibility first and foremost if we are going to participate in the grand feast that is the kingdom of God.
Universality is a central part of Jesus’ message that is always under attack. Yet we are in constant battle with exclusivity whether it is a matter of race or sexual orientation, immigrant status of ethnic origin. There is always some item out front as transgender issues hold sway today. “Them versus us” is never far below the headlines.
Jesus’ statement today is a wake-up call for us. “I do not know where you are from.” (Lk 13:25)
Jesus is pretty clear on these issues. “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye…You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your own eye first.” (Mt. 7:3-5)
It is very clear that being an usher or lector or Eucharistic minister or a member of the liturgy committee or school board, while admirable, are not the main concerns. Jesus invites us to be humble and forgiving servants in a Church of sinners seeking the mercy of God together.
St Teresa of Avila has two fundamental teachings that address today’s Gospel. Jesus is telling us to listen to his message and live it. To do this, we need to know ourselves. Teresa repeats over and over that the way to God is first and foremost guided by self-knowledge. We need to know we are sinners, but sinners who are loved and forgiven. That is why the great Carmelite mystic says the story of our lives is always, in the final analysis, the story of God’s mercy.
This theme of mercy was at the center of Pope Francis’ message that delighted and inspired the world. He said that to be a Christian is not to never fall down and fail. That human weakness is part of the journey for all of us. It is to get up again and embrace God’s mercy that is always there as a critical option for all of us.
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