Twenty-first Sunday In Ordinary Time

Mass Celebrated By Archbishop Denis Hart
at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne,
on Sunday, 22nd August, 2004, at 11.00am

Introduction

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Jesus was asked, ‘Will there be only a few saved?’ And he responds, ‘Try your best to enter by the narrow door.’ In other words, being saved will only be possible if we hear the Lord and relate directly to him and his teaching.

As we call to mind our sins, knowing that he is the Way, the Truth and the Life, let us ask the Lord that he will fill us with hope to see his way, and resolve and courage to follow it.

Homily

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In 1990 Ignatius Press published an engaging book with a long title by Peter Kreeft, “Everything you ever wanted to know about heaven, but never dreamed of asking.” It contains the question that begins today’s Gospel, “Sir, will there be only a few saved?”

In medieval times the view was that many people would go to hell. Possibly today many assume that they will go to heaven. But Jesus did not answer the question directly. He suggested that we try and enter through the narrow door and in Saint John’s Gospel he refers to himself as ‘the door’.

This Gospel can really shake you up because it shows that salvation is not automatic, that we have to live our lives by following Jesus’ teaching, that if we have mortal sin individual reconciliation is the only means to restoring our broken relationship with God and that we have to work in prayer, belief and service, one with the Lord, following his example, living after his pattern. That is the only sure way.

Yet the Second Reading gives us a much better challenge. It stresses that we are sons and daughters of God, that he wants to train us and that implies effort and discipline. In the words of William Barclay, “We can be (1) resigned like stoics, (2) with a grim sense of getting it over as soon as possible, (3) accept it with the self pity that in the end leads to collapse, (4) accept it as a punishment we deserve but resent or (5) accept discipline as a sign of God’s care for our wellbeing.”

Truly we can say that the human experience of discipline is learning to become a child of God, as was Jesus. He is the pioneer who struck out the path of the marathon, who finished the race, and if we stay on the path we will see the eventual fruit of our training in justice and peace.

It is comforting to know that in Olympic terms we are probably like participants in the Special Olympics rather than in the games themselves; to limp on with our disabilities, struggle and suffering. In the end there will be peace and justice with God and all the others who persevere forever.

Above all, let us ask ourselves, is Jesus our way, our truth, our life at every moment of the week? Are we constant in our resolve, readiness to seek forgiveness, determined to be one with the Lord in prayer and in the pattern of life we show. And as we pray after Communion, ‘Lord, may this Eucharist increase within us the healing power of your love. May it guide and direct our efforts to please you in all things.’ A real relationship with Christ, a readiness to see that he is the way and a determination and perseverance to follow. That is my prayer for everyone today.

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.