21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily (2025)
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
Isaiah 66:18-21
Psalm 117:1, 2 (Mark 16:15)
Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13
Luke 13:22-30
August 24, 2025
The question is “Lord, will only a few people be saved?”
Jesus answers, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.”
So, contrary to those who think everyone gets into Heaven, Jesus makes it clear that not everyone does. God wants everyone to be in Heaven but not everyone truly accepts the invitation. Or, at least, they are not ready at the appointed time. They come after the door has been locked.
What is required to be saved?
Jesus speaks of those who will come late and say, “we ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.” Yes, perhaps they came to church. In church they heard God’s Word taught but did they pay any attention? Do you allow yourself to be transformed by what you hear at Mass?
They came to eat and drink. What did this mean to them? What does it mean to you to receive Communion? Do you understand what it means to receive Jesus in the Eucharist? Do you allow yourself to become the Body of Christ?
You see, just showing up in church is not enough. To them, the master says, “I do not know where you are from.”
What are your thoughts while you are at Mass?
I’m not talking about miscellaneous distractions. I am asking if you are paying any attention at Mass or do you choose to think about other things?
Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord says, “I know their works and their thoughts.” He knows your thoughts. How does that make you feel?
The Lord comes “to gather nations of every language.” He wants everyone to be in Heaven. He sends disciples out “to the distant coastlands” to proclaim his gospel.
In Hebrews we read, “You have forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children.”
Do you remember what Jesus taught as He went? You probably remember some of his miracles like the feeding of the five thousand and healing of the blind man, but do you remember what He taught? Do you live what our Lord has taught us in his Word?
When life seems hard, do you “disdain the discipline of the Lord?”
Why?
Why do you think the Lord seeks to discipline you?
If you have children, why did/do you discipline them? Was/Is it not to help them become better people?
God does not want to punish us. He wants to discipline us to train us to be better disciples, to be better people.
A dedicated athlete practices over and over. Do you practice your faith?
A dedicated athlete who wants to become better accepts instruction from the coach and tries to improve.
As you journey through life, is God your coach? Do you listen to the Lord guiding to be a better disciple or do let the world control your life?
Do you realize ways in which the world controls your life?
For instance, if you choose to throwaway some part of church teaching, why? Are you choosing to reject what God says in favor of what the world says? Why?
For instance, how do you look at the Sixth Commandment, you shall not commit adultery?
The world, if it says any type of adultery is wrong, defines it very narrowly because the world chooses the pleasures of the flesh. The world does not understand that to do so is to say the pleasures of the flesh are more important than eternal life. Is that what you mean to do?
Our Catholic faith teaches us how God created our human sexuality to be.
Our human sexuality is not created merely for physical pleasure. God created our human sexuality to be rooted in love.
To be saved, we need to love our neighbor. We need to see them, as we should see ourselves, as persons, not objects of pleasure.
I end by repeating a portion of our collect (opening prayer) today.
“Grant your people to love what you command
and to desire what you promise,
that, amid the uncertainties of this world,
our hearts may be fixed on that place
where true gladness is found.”