Homily: Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)
Isaiah 66:18–21 / Hebrews 12:5–7, 11–13 / Luke 13:22–30
24 August 2025
Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA
Who among us here is sure that he/she is going to heaven? Please raise your hand. There was a lady in another parish who raised her hand high when asked this question. She was in her sixties then. She strongly believed that her consistent presence at mass, her service in the church and her large donations guaranteed her a place in heaven. Today she is in her nineties. She is bedridden and has Alzheimer’s disease. She probably thought she was heaven-bound already, but heaven said, ‘Stay a bit longer, we are not done with you down there.’ (Joke lang po.)
The truth is, no one, not even I would know for sure if we will end up in heaven. Some religious groups foolishly claim: “As long as you accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Saviour, you are already saved!” Others go as far as to say: “Membership in our group guarantees salvation — outside of us, there is no hope.” (Wow, e di sila na!) There is a real danger to being smugly convinced of our own salvation because when we do, we remove God from the equation and fool ourselves into thinking that human measures can guarantee us heaven.
Today’s gospel passage is a strong warning against such false security. Jesus does not say: “Follow me and you are safe.” He says: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.” (Luke 13:24) Why? Because salvation is not an automatic guarantee. It is not about a formula, nor about belonging to an exclusive group. It is about nurturing an ongoing, loving relationship with God — a relationship that calls for conversion, humility, and perseverance. Jesus uses the word “strive” because the work is not easy and it entails much effort, and even sacrifice, on our part. It is a persistent struggle we must overcome throughout life.
Although, we must do our part to reach heaven, salvation is not within our control. Salvation is God’s initiative — a gift, not an entitlement, not an achievement. In the First Reading, Isaiah shows us a merciful God whose love and generosity to His chosen ones is beyond measure. He says, God will gather people from every nation and language, not because they followed a certain formula, but because He Himself chooses to welcome them. This reminds us that heaven is not guaranteed by belonging to a particular group. Some from other faiths may be welcomed in, while some Catholics and other Christians may sadly fall short. Even if we go to Mass, follow the commandments, give donations, and so on and so forth, it does not mean we are fine. God extends His hand to save us, but we must reach out, grab His hand and hang on so He can pull us up.
The Letter to the Hebrews reminds us that when we go through difficulties, we must not perceive it as God punishing us for our weakness and shortcomings. God is our Father, and we are His adopted children, so He disciplines us as a loving father would his own children. Discipline is not punishment, but training — it keeps us humble, keeps us from drifting into pride, keeps us dependent on God’s grace. Without it, we may believe ourselves better than others and start judging others as morally inferior or unworthy. Jesus warns us against this self-righteous attitude saying some who thought they would be “inside” will find themselves outside, while those who are least expected — the poor, the humble, the sinners who relied on God’s mercy — will be welcomed in. We can never be too sure of ourselves because God sees beyond the exterior and looks into our hearts.
Brothers and sisters, today we are invited to examine ourselves: “Where do I place my confidence — in my own effort, in belonging to a group, or in God’s mercy alone? Let us find it in our hearts to tell the Lord: “I cannot save myself and rely completely on Your mercy.” Let us be grateful for the free gift of salvation, and ready yourselves to tread the path of humility, surrender and trust that we may enter the “narrow gate”!
Sunday Gospel Reflections 