Gospel Reflection 2019/2020

26^TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

27 Sep 2020

[Matthew 21: 28-32]

Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.”

Generally, there can be two natural responses to Jesus’ words:

1) The eligibility criteria to enter heaven must be surprisingly low that even the public sinners and outcasts of the society are also entering it.

2) How can this be that these public sinners and outcasts of the society get to enter the kingdom of God before us? Are we not more worthy, more entitled and more deserved to enter the kingdom?

To shed light on these, yes, to enter heaven is both easy and hard: easy because our Lord Jesus has redeemed us by His precious blood and swung open the gates of Heaven; yet hard because mere lip service will not get us there.

God looks at the interior rather than the exterior. God values the praying hearts rather than the babbling lips. God treasures our life of love, virtues, holiness and service rather than our beautiful yet empty praises and promises.

Jesus has already warned us [Mt 7: 21] that, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Therefore, our faith must be lived out with actions, and our actions must bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Only a life of humble discipleship in the footsteps of our Lord will eventually bring us face-to-face to our God.

God is loving and merciful: He desires everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth [1 Tim 2: 4]. Yes, God desires to save everyone including the public sinners, the outcasts… even the last, the lost, the least and the little. No one who comes to God with sincerity of heart will be turned away.

Salvation is free for all but not cheap. Only he who has clean hands and a pure heart may ascend the mountain of the Lord! [Ps 24: 3-4] Instead of focusing on others’ sins and brokenness, may we have the courage to examine our own hearts:

1) Do I honour God merely with my lips or sincerely from my heart? [Mt 15:8]

2) Do I habour evil, hatred, anger and jealousy against others? [Mt 15:19]

Let our fervent prayer be:

“Lord Jesus Christ, may I always have clean hands to serve You and a pure heart to love You!”