My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
This is not only the invitation from the Lord Jesus, but also the demand from our Heavenly Father: “Be holy like your Heavenly Father is holy.” Like today’s first reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah: “I come to gather nations of every language; they shall come and see my glory.” But how many people truly heed this invitation from God?
Perhaps there are not many in our society nowadays. We are, in fact, living in the world which is full of temptations and actions of devils. Many people are addicted to social media: they allow bad images to enter their souls through their own eyes. They easily open their senses for their own troubles. And they are living in the untrue illusions offered by Satan. Many people are already headed toward abandoning values and letting relativism and secularism guide them. They don’t consider sins anymore; everything they do they judge according to their own conscience rather than the conscience of God under the light of the Church’s Magisterium. Above all, it is very dangerous that devils with their cunning always whisper into each human’s ear that there is plenty of time in their lives for them to turn to God. Just wait for tomorrow, tomorrow and tomorrow – Hasta Manana!
Too many times, you and I think: “I am a good person. I treat people right. I am not worried about getting into heaven.” We should be attentive to this week’s Gospel: “Many, I tell you, will try to enter and be unable.” Therefore, how can we enter the Kingdom of Heaven or how can we be saved? As we know the Kingdom is extended to everyone. Jesus also said that the way is narrow and demands more than a casual interest. Indeed, Jesus demands love. Jesus demands more than being merely good. He demands holiness.
God doesn’t want anyone to be lost. God doesn’t want any of His children to be left outside. But God cannot force us to walk through the door. He leaves the choice to enter the door up to us. What is your choice? Enter or not enter???
With love,
Fr. Thuong Hoai Nguyen, Pastor