Word to the Wise
Wednesday, October 27, 2010 - Wednesday in the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
[Ephesians 6:1-9 and Luke 13:22-30]Some one asked him, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" he answered them, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough."
One of the contrasts that I use in preaching parish missions is that between an "intentional Catholic" and an "accidental Catholic." An accidental Catholic is one who simply was born to a Catholic family, baptized Catholic, went to Catholic schools, maybe marries a Catholic person, goes to a Catholic church, joins Catholic organizations - all without any thought or intention as to what all of this means. One could just as easily supply the word, "Presbyterian," or "Methodist!" Further, such an "accidental" Catholic might believe that all those "accidents" would guarantee salvation! Notice that one might do all these "Catholic" things without "feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, visiting the imprisoned and sick, etc." (cf. Matt. 25:31-45). An "intentional" Catholic is one who intentionally embraces not only the Catholic "way of doing things" but also the gospel demands that sometimes get hidden by all the effort to do what Catholics do. Jesus consistently says that physical kinship or any other physical proximity to him ("We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets! t" are no guarantee of salvation. Those who think that such things mean they will be among "the first" may find themselves "last" at the final day! The number of those to be saved is irrelevant. What counts is whether or not someone makes a good faith effort to "enter through the narrow gate." It is the strength of their relationship in faith to Jesus - their "intentional" effort to follow Jesus - that will enable them to enter. It is not enough to say, "I got my sacraments!" The sacraments commit us to live as Jesus did and taught. We will not be asked for our "baptismal certificates" at the final judgment! We will be asked what we did with our baptismal commitment! AMEN
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