GOOD FOR TWO

Twenty - First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is 66: 18 – 21 / Ps 117 / Heb 12: 5 – 7 / Lk 13: 22 – 30

What is your dream in life?

For students, I’m sure that to graduate with flying colors is a dream to achieve. How about those of you who are married? What is your dream as a husband? Nga unta ma buotan na imong asawa (That the wife becomes  a good wife)? As a wife, what is your dream? Nga unta mo-remit og insakto imong bana (That that the husband will remit the exact amount coming from his salary)? Kamong mga bag-o lang gibuwagan (you who have just lost a relationship), what is your dream in life? Nga unta marunong nang matuto ulit magmahal ang iyong puso (that perhaps the heart will learn to love again)? Yes, we have varied dreams but I hope as Christians, we share this common dream, and that is to go to heaven.

Jesus is reminding us in our Gospel today that to enter heaven, we must pass through the narrow gate. But why is the gate narrow? Why not a wide open gate so that many can enter?

My dear friends, Jesus, in telling us about the narrow gate, teaches us that the invitation to go to heaven is for all, however, not many can enter together because each has to pass through the narrow gate, one by one. To go to heaven is an individual task; to go to heaven is not a package deal nor a group travel.

So we ask another question, what can make us enter through the narrow gate?

Going back to our Gospel, we see that the people were rejected because the master of the house did not know where they are from. Yet, the people insisted that they ate and drank with him and even taught in their streets. But the Master told them, “depart from me all you evildoers!”

From the story, we realize that what can make us enter heaven is not on our race, color, or class but on our integrity which is being whole and undivided. The people in our Gospel today failed in integrity because even if Jesus was dining, drinking, and teaching them, they remained unconvinced to accept him as the Messiah. They failed in loving the Lord in words and works.

This is therefore our challenge: if we want to go to heaven, then, let us not merely express such dream through words. Rather, we must work for it here on earth. If we remember the words of St. Therese of the Child Jesus when she said, “I will spend heaven by doing good on earth!”

Let us make heaven here on earth. Let us make others experience heaven through our words and works. Kana ganing makaingon ang uban kanato, “Langit sa piling mo (It is like when people say, ‘it is heaven by your side)!”Kana ganing malipay ang uban kon naa ta (It is when people are joyful in our presence). Kana ganing molu-ag ilang mga gihunahuna kon naa ta (It is when people become light-minded if we are around).

My dear friends, let us start making our dreams come true by building heaven here on earth. So that at the end of our lives, we can pass through the narrow gate and enter into the presence of the Lord.

There was this widower who at the entrance gate of heaven told St. Peter, “Dro, buotan kaayo to akong asawa. Kada Lunes, mosimba gyud to siya sa menteryo. Martes hangtod Huwebes, mo-volunteer gyud to siya sa orphanage. Every Friday, naa gyud to siya sa Basilica kay kolektora man siya. Kada Sabado, moapil gyud to siya sa aurora kada kadlawon. Ug every Sunday, kaduha gyud to siya mosimba. Usa para iya ang usa para ako.”

And so, St. Peter asked, “what do you want me to do for you?

And the husband replied, Tungod kay minyo man mi Dro, so good for two nato iyang mga gibuhat sa buhi pa siya. Busa pasudla ko sa langit.

But St. Peter replied, “pasensya na Sir kay ang pagsulod sa imong asawa dinhi sa langit good for 2 man to!”

(There was this widower who, at the entrance gate of heaven, told St. Peter, “My wife was a very good wife. Every Monday she goes to Mass at the cemetery. Tuesdays through Thursdays she would volunteer at the orphanage. On Fridays she was always at the Basilica since she was one of the collectors there. On Saturdays she would be participating in the aurora at dawn. She would even hear Mass twice on Sundays, one for me and one for herself.”

And so, St. Peter asked, “what do you want me to do for you?

The husband replied, “Because I was married to her, whatever good she did during her life was good for two, so right now, you can allow me to enter heaven.”

But St. Peter replied, “Excuse me Sir but your wife’s entry here in Heaven was good for 2”)

My dear friends, to go to heaven is an invitation for everyone. But to enter through it means to pass through a narrow gate. And so, do not rely on the goodness of others. Rather, wake up from your sleep and start working hard by spending heaven by doing good here on earth. Amen.