The Costly Ticket to Heaven

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time: August 24, 2025

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

Life is full of perplexity. Yet there is space for wonder, awe and amusement. We would like to have things happen to us just as we think. Unfortunately, it does not turn out to be so. Our destiny has many facets. We are uncertain about the future; moreover, we are uncertain of the present as well. Yet we make some calculated moves, hoping that everything will be on our side. In fact, the world in which we live sets many expectations and awaits results or output from us. The liturgical readings for this Sunday are unique, special and tough. Yet they teach us something that is very important for our lives, that is to live in the presence of God.

1. Discipleship Beyond Shortcuts

In this passage, Luke 13:22–30, Jesus is journeying toward Jerusalem, and someone asks Him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” Often, we are not worried about ourselves and our salvation but of others. We are pretty kind, right? The answer of Jesus is straightforward. “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.” What seems at first an abstract curiosity suddenly becomes deeply personal. The question is not about how many are saved, but rather, am I living as a disciple who seeks the Kingdom with all strength and sincerity?

The “narrow gate” imagery is striking in the present digital world when many doors seem wide and effortless. We live in an age of instant gratification, shortcuts, and a culture that often disposes of what is difficult or demanding. Everything must come to our table effortlessly. The Gospel reminds us that the path of authentic discipleship is not about ease but about fidelity. It is a gate that requires humility, perseverance, and a heart willing to sacrifice for love of God and neighbour.

2. The Expensive ticket to heaven

The Word of God does not tell us that salvation is a prize for the strongest or a reward for the few. There is no choosing here or seeking influence. The narrowness of the gate is not about exclusion but about transformation. To pass through requires shedding the excess pride, selfish ambition, jealousy, wickedness, grudges, and attachments that weigh us down. The narrow gate protects the integrity of the Reign of God, ensuring that those who enter come with hearts shaped by compassion, justice, and mercy. In other words, it is a vast, global banquet. 

Facinatingly, this passage also carries a warning: it is not enough to claim superficial familiarity with Christ (“We ate and drank in your company…”) or to think cultural Christianity alone grants entry. Just because you are a Christian, it does not mean that you have a free entry into heaven. The ticket to heaven is expensive and complex.  What matters is the lived relationship — allowing our choices, our treatment of others, our inner life of prayer to bear witness that we know Him personally.

3. The desire of God: From Spectator to Participant

What is the desire of God? It is to bring all together at the table with love. No one is excluded from God's love. Even the “last” are not written off; they are welcomed. The question is, am I ready to rejoice when God’s mercy overturns expectations? For a Christian, the journey is everything. The answers of Jesus come during his journey to Jerusalem, symbolic indeed. Jesus becomes personal and sees the need to be direct and to the point.

Jesus is telling us that our relationship with God is not a passive inheritance or a spectator sport. It is not something like you are part of a like-minded people's association. It demands our full, conscious, and active participation. It requires discipline. The choice to pray when we are tired and distracted. The choice to forgive when our pride wants to hold a grudge. The choice to serve when it is inconvenient. The choice to turn off the noise of the world and listen for the still, small whisper or voice of God.

Questions for self-reflection

1. When I hear "strive to enter through the narrow gate," do I interpret it as limiting me — or as an invitation to deeper authenticity and freedom?
2. What must I “set down” to pass through — grudges, pride, reliance on status, or spiritual complacency?

Prayer

Lord, give me the courage to walk the narrow yet life-giving path. Strip from me the burdens that draw me away from You. Keep my heart humble and my spirit open, that I may rejoice when Your Kingdom gathers the unexpected and unseen. May I not only know of You but live in You, so that when the door opens, I may enter and take my place at Your table of love. I make this prayer in the name of Jesus, Amen.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

21 August 2025

Faith that Disturbs and Transforms

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time: August 17, 2025

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

Sometimes faith unsettles us. We are rattled by the very faith that we have when we are in the troubled waters. We call it "faith crisis." The undimmed faith is the one that can withstand the strong winds of doubt and disbelief. We are tossed by the fear of imminent fall or a longer period of suffering in our lives. There is no other cure or remedy except accepting what life is all about. To overcome the fear of doubt and suffering, we must inculcate in ourselves a strong sense of faith in a God in whom we put our trust. The liturgical readings for this Sunday do exactly what we have in mind. Prophet Jeremiah suffered from his own people and yet he overcame the fear of doubt and faith in Yaweh, who had called him to do His Will. Jesus puts very strongly that aspect of division which would occur because of faith in him. The letter to the Hebrews points to those people who have struggled to keep their faith and yet were successful and now enjoy the heavenly realm. In sum, all the readings encourage us to keep our focus and attention on Him and Him alone. 

1. God’s Rescue in the Darkest Pits

We see prophet Jeremiah in Ch. 38 being thrown into a cistern not because he had committed a crime, but because he dared to speak God’s truth in a time when it was unwelcome. He stood for God's justice. He spoke the truth. Unfortunately, truth hurts. Sadly, Jeremiah’s fidelity towards God is not rewarded with applause but with persecution. Poor prophet was always at the receiving end. St Oscar Romero said. "We know that every effort to improve society…is an effort that God blesses; that God wants; that God demands of us."

The Gift of Faith and the Call

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time: August 10, 2025

Readings: Wisdom 18:6–9; Psalm 33:1, 12, 18–22; Hebrews 11:1–2, 8–19; Luke 12:35–40

 To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/9YbHdgU9B0k

Before you express your faith in someone else, you must express it in yourself. Being confident, having faith in oneself, is as essential as oxygen to one's heart. Our life experience tells us that unless and until you believe in yourself and in your abilities, no one can help you to develop confidence by giving a lecture or some exercise. It is the faith and belief that one has that makes the person who he or she is. Our bodies are built to sense and respond to threats. While fear can protect us, it can also paralyze, rob us of peace, and create division. The ultimate goal of our lives is to live our lives fully and faithfully. St. Irenaeus’ famous insight on the vocation of the human person, “The glory of God is man fully alive”, fits perfectly with the heart of today's liturgical readings.

1. Being alive means being confident

Jesus’ call to be awake, active, and ready is exactly what it means to be “fully alive” in faith. A “fully alive” Christian is not simply breathing and existing but is alert in love, generous in service, and anchored in the hope of God’s Kingdom. Readiness for the Master’s return is not about fearful waiting—it’s about living each moment vibrantly in Christ, allowing His grace to animate our thoughts, words, and deeds.

A Rich Fool Being Fooled by God

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time: August 03, 2025

Readings: Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21–23; Psalm 90:3–17; Colossians 3:1–5, 9–11; Luke 12:13–21

 To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/UVVhworHsOc

Believing in oneself is a sign of courage and determination—a commitment to live life with purpose and depth. It reflects a healthy self-awareness, where one recognizes both strengths and limitations, and learns to navigate the complexities of the world with wisdom. However, trouble arises when our belief shifts from inner conviction to external possessions—when we place our trust in material wealth, power, or status. These, as life often reminds us, are fleeting and uncertain. Nothing in this world is permanent, not even life itself. What endures is the love we show, the care we extend, and the compassion we offer to those around us. To live meaningfully is to live for others—feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, and acknowledging that every person has a place in this world. The readings on this 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time invite us to reflect deeply on these truths and challenge us to embrace a life rooted in divine wisdom and genuine care for others.

1. The Uncertainty of Earthly Security 

We have this beautiful Gospel reading from St Luke 12:13-21. It's a parable about the rich man who cared very little about others. He believed in his wealth, harvest, grains and the barns that he had built. The parable of the rich fool is not just about money — it’s about where we place our ultimate trust. The man had a great harvest, bigger barns, and grand plans. He was big in terms of material things, and now he wants to be even bigger. But he failed to realize that life is fragile and fleeting, and true security can never be stored in a barn.