Homily for Tuesday, 23 June 2015– Ferial

Tuesday of the 12th week in Ordinary Time

Readings of the day: Genesis 13:2, 12-18;  Psalm 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5; Matthew 7:6, 12-19

What is the most difficult message you have ever had to hear? Today I find our readings to be about extremely difficult but necessary messages.

Can we imagine Abram and Lot, good friends; both rich and successful in herding livestock; so successful that the land on which they have settled can no longer support both of them, so Abram and Lot must separate? It is bad enough when friends need to separate under ordinary circumstances: We move; we change schools or workplaces; we retire. Worse yet, we might experience the illness or death of a good friend. But would it not have been terrible for Abram and Lot to know that each other were still alive and well, but that they could never see each other again?

Jesus’ message in our Gospel reading is also extremely difficult but, I believe, necessary. Jesus teaches that there is a right and a wrong path; a way that leads to salvation and a way that does not, and that “those who find” the right path “are few.” What do we make of this harsh, ominous message?

Would it not be natural for us to want to soften Jesus’ message. Many do, especially in our time and culture. We know the error of relativism: That we can act as we please; we ought not to judge the beliefs or actions of one individual or culture as superior or not to the beliefs or actions of another. Salvation does not depend on accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ or of any “organized religion,” many argue.

But this is not what Jesus teaches. Indeed our beliefs; our actions; whether we accept and practice the Gospel of Christ does matter for our salvation. But there is more. I do not wish to discourage us (and neither did Jesus), yet this is, I believe, is at the heart of Jesus’ message in Matthew’s Gospel today: Without God it is impossible for us to live fully by Christ’s Gospel; to live fully in a way that builds up human community and human dignity. Without God we cannot “enter through the narrow gate.” This is possible only by God’s grace.

And here is our hope; our encouragement: With God’s grace, if we accept this grace and live by it, will find and “enter through the narrow gate.” God is not actively trying to block our way to or through the gate; to obstruct our way to salvation. We can (and I think we are called to) hear in today’s Gospel reading that God wills the salvation of as many people; all of us if possible.

We are free to help one another or to obstruct one another from the salvation that God wills for all of us. May we help one another to salvation by kindness; by forgiveness; by works of mercy. May we avoid gossip; passive-aggression; any action or words that tear down others’ dignity; divide community; divide households; families. In our hearts; our consciences we know which actions and words lead us to salvation and which do not; which are right and which are wrong. With God’s grace, our salvation together is possible, even probable. Individually and without God, there is no salvation; no way “through the narrow gate.”

Jesus gives us this extremely difficult message today, but a message that is necessary; for our good; for our salvation.