TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Isaiah 66:18-21; Psalm 117:1-2; Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13; Luke 13:22-30

Isaiah’s prophecy in the first reading: “… I come to gather nations of every language; they shall come and see my glory. I will set a sign among them; from them I will send fugitives (better translated as: messengers, ambassadors, emissaries) to the nations … to distant coastlands that have never heard my fame, or seen my glory; and they shall proclaim my glory among the nations. They shall all bring all your brothers and sisters from all the nations as an offering to the Lord…Some of these I will take as priests and Levites …” Every word of this prophecy was fulfilled with the coming of Jesus Christ and the spread of Christianity all over the world.

Isaiah says that we are sent as messengers to the nations and distant coastland to bring brothers and sisters to God and to proclaim his glory. We ask ourselves a few questions. Where do I see myself in Isaiah’s message considering discipleship, evangelization, and witnessing Jesus to others? Can I boast of bringing anyone to God in any way? Where do I see myself in Isaiah’s message in helping someone in need, or bringing joy to someone who is distressed? Can the needy and the distressed see God’s glory through me?

God has taken only a few from among us as priests, religious, and missionaries, who are God’s messengers to distant lands. For the rest of us, the nations and coastlands where we are sent as messengers are our family, our community, our neighborhood, our parish, our work place, and the society.

Moses’ words to the Israelites are relevant for our reflection, “For this command which I am giving you today is not too wondrous or remote for you. It is not in the heavens, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to the heavens to get it for us and tell us of it, that we may do it?’ Nor is it across the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea to get it for us and tell us of it, that we may do it?’ No, it is something very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to do it” (Deuteronomy 30:11-14).

The second reading reminds us that as God’s messengers, we will encounter trials and difficulties in our missions and undertakings. The second reading encourages us to endure our trials and difficulties. The reading exhorts us, “So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be disjointed but healed” (Hebrews 12:12-14). Many times, trials and difficulties are rungs of life’s ladder. Let no trials make anyone to fall off from one’s ladder of life. We pray for God’s grace.

Whether as messengers of God or whether we are pursuing our life’s goal, we will encounter “narrow gates” that is trials and difficulties. But Jesus encourages us in today’s gospel to “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, … will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” We pray for God’s grace.

In today’s gospel, “Someone asked Jesus, ‘Lord, will only a few people be saved?’” (Luke 13:23). Before the coming of Jesus, the Jews believed that the kingdom of God was only for the Jews, and that the Gentiles had no share in the kingdom. The questioner wanted to know Jesus’ opinion. Jesus explained that the kingdom of God is not a privilege or a birthright of any one or any group or any nation, but for those who merit it by their striving. Jesus says, “For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” Which is to say, some Gentiles who accepted the message of salvation would recline at table in the kingdom of God, while the Jews who refused the message of salvation would not be saved.

Sadly, as it was in the time of Jesus, so it is now in many places where resources, positions, placements, and so on are not shared or distributed equitably and according to merit but according to privilege, might, and power. Let us pray for the repentance of those who promote the vices of favoritism, discrimination, exclusion, and entitlement in our society. We pray that the concept of fair share replaces the vice of partiality.

It is even more sad that among us, many times, we inflict on one another these same vices and sins we cry about and condemn that are happening in our society. On our own part, let us be advocates and instruments of fairness wherever we find ourselves. Jesus says, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you” (Matthew 20:25).

TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10; Psalm 40:2-4, 18; Hebrews 12:1-4; Luke 12:49-53

The persecution of Jeremiah described in the first reading took place before Babylon conquered and destroyed Judah about 587 B.C. King Zedekiah and his princes were in dilemma, either to surrender and pay tax to Babylon or resist and be destroyed. The princes advised Zedekiah to seek alliance with Egypt and go to war with Babylon. Jeremiah advised against resisting and going to war with Babylon. He advised paying of tax to avoid the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem. This contrary advice made the princes to seek the death of Jeremiah. They said to the king, “Jeremiah ought to be put to death; he is demoralizing the soldiers who are left in the city and all the people, … he is not interested in the welfare of our people, but in their ruin” (Jeremiah 38:4). Of course, the princes lied against Jeremiah. With the permission of the king, the princes threw Jeremiah into a well full of mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud. Their plan was a painful death of Jeremiah by starvation or by whatever could kill him in that abyss.

In the first reading, we read how Ebedmelech intervened and Jeremiah was rescued alive from the well. It is pleasing to know that Ebedmelech, a court official, was an Ethiopian. Jeremiah was saved by an African!

Egypt refused to ally with Judah against Babylon. Babylon conquered Judah, destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, and carried the people into exile.

The first reading is an example of where people refuse to humble themselves and accept the truth but prefer to tell lies and prefer to kill the messenger of the truth. It is an example of where people do everything possible to sink the truth into the mud. The rescue of Jeremiah shows that the truth never remains buried in the mud. The truth will eventually come to light, no matter how long it is hidden. Jesus says, “Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known” (Matthew 10:26).

The conquering of Judah, the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and the carrying of the people into exile show the unfortunate consequences of arrogance, lies, and rejection of the truth. St. Paul cautions, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

When we are confronted with the truth, do we take the path of the princes; that is, reject the truth, tell lies, get rid of the messenger of the truth? Or, do we take the path of Ebedmelech; that is, speak the truth and save the innocent?

Despite the persecution faced by Jeremiah, he did not relent in prophesying to the people what “Thus says the Lord …” Jeremiah teaches us that if we are on the path of the truth, we are not to give up but to persevere in the face of opposition and difficulties. The second reading encourages us to “persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith … [who] endured the cross, despising its shame. … Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.”

In today’s gospel, Jesus says that his coming will bring division. How does the Prince of Peace become a source of division? Jesus is the truth. Therefore, division is bound to occur wherever lies are upheld and the truth is rejected. Peace, harmony, and unity do not exist where the truth is rejected. Jesus says, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

Jesus, also, says in the gospel, “I have come to set fire on earth, and how I wish it were already blazing.” The Sacraments and the word of God we receive are supposed to set us on fire in the same way Jeremiah was set on fire which made him cry out: “I say I will not mention him, I will no longer speak in his name. But then it is as if fire is burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding back, I cannot endure it!” (Jeremiah 20:9). We can, therefore, see why detractors could not stop Jeremiah from proclaiming the truth.

The fire of truth burned in the life of Ebedmelech who was a mere servant. He was fired up to courageously speak to the king about the murderous actions of the princes. The king, who had handed Jeremiah over to the princes, ordered the rescue of Jeremiah. The fire of truth of a servant dispelled the darkness of falsehood of the princes.

The fire Jesus sets on us makes us the light of the world that cannot be hidden or put under a bowl. May we let our light shine so that our good works be seen and God be glorified (Matthew 5:14-16). May we blaze from the fire of the Lord. Amen.

NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Wisdom 18:6-9; Psalm 33:1, 12, 18-22; Hebrew 11:1-2, 8-19; Luke 12:32-48

The first reading calls our attention to the Jews who put their trust in “sure knowledge of oaths” between God and their ancestors and for this, they remained steadfast in their faith in God. God made oaths to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, promising them and their descendants the land of Canaan. God made oaths to those who obeyed his laws and commandments, “I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” The first reading reveals that at various times of persecution, the faithful continued to worship God in secret. The first reading says, “For in secret the holy children of the good were offering sacrifice and putting into effect with one accord the divine institution.”

In the same manner, the Catholic Church has survived various periods of persecution due to the secret religious practices of the faithful. There are powerful stories about Ireland, Japan, China, and other places of how the Catholic Church survived persecution for centuries due to the perseverance of Catholics who performed religious practices in hiding. Sometimes, they are called underground churches. The message of the first reading is a challenge to us as individuals and to our generation in general.

Two Sundays ago, we reflected on Abraham’s hospitality. Last Sunday, we reflected on his life of prayer. Today, the second reading invites us to reflect on his faith in God. We read: “ *By faith* Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go. *By faith* he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents … *By faith* he received power to generate, even though he was past the normal age - and Sarah herself was sterile - for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy. … *By faith* Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac…” What a man of faith, which he is why he is called “father of faith.”

Soren Kierkegaard uses the phrase, “leap of faith” to describe a decision or belief that is made without logical or rational justification. The “leap of faith” Abraham took in each of the situations narrated in the second reading is amazing. They are a challenge to us as individual and to our generation in general. Abraham’s faithfulness and the faithfulness of our ancestors encourage us to have unwavering faith in God in all circumstances. St. Paul says, “We Walk by faith not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). He also says, “In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16). The Book of Hebrews 11:6 writes, “…without faith it is impossible to please him.”

However, St. James tells us that faith alone is not enough. Good works must accompany it. He asks, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” St. James concludes, “Faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:14 & 16). Good works are actions motivated by love of God and love of human beings. If we who are of little faith also lack good works, of what benefit is that to us? St. John emphasizes the love of human being where he states, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20).

We were reminded last Sunday that we are all sojourners on earth whose real citizenship is in heaven. The reminder continues today as Jesus encourages us that God “is pleased to give us the kingdom.” Therefore, we are to work towards having “inexhaustible treasures in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy.” Jesus adds, “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” Which means, we are not to put our hearts here on earth which offers us only transient worldly treasures. Rather, we are to put our hearts on the Kingdom of God where our eternal treasures are.

Jesus says in John 14:1-3, “… And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.” He tells us in today’s gospel to be faithful and prudent stewards who await their master’s return, ready to open immediately he knocks. Faithful and prudent servants are those build eternal treasures with love of God and faith in God, and with love of human beings and good works. May God give us the graces we need to build eternal treasures. Amen.