August 24: The Day of the Lord / El Día del Señor

Starting with St. Luke’s 9^th chapter, we are told that Jesus went walking toward Jerusalem. He made that journey not as a pilgrim going up to the Temple to fulfill a religious duty, nor as a tourist on vacation. According to St. Luke, Jesus went around the cities and villages “teaching.” JIs deep conviction was that He needed to communicate to His people that God is a good Father who offers salvation to everyone, that all are invited to receive God’s forgiveness.

Jesus’ message surprised everyone. Sinners, for example, were filled with joy to hear Him speak of God’s unfathomable goodness – even they could hope for salvation! In the Pharisee camp, however, they criticized His message and His practice of welcoming tax-collectors, prostitutes, and sinners. Perhaps they feared that Jesus opening up a road to the “watering-down” of religion and to unacceptable morals. They couldn’t have been more wrong.

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Jesus’ invitation to “enter by the narrow door” can be read in light of another saying of Jesus: “I am the door; the one who enters through me, will be saved.” (John 10, 9). Entering by the narrow door is “following Jesus” – learning to live as He did; speaking His truth; taking up His Cross; and trusting the Father who has raised Him from the dead.

For the coming week: In following Jesus, it is important to remember that not everything counts the same, not everything is equal. We need to respond to the Father’s love faithfully because what He asks of us isn’t legalistic rigorism, but a radical love for God and for our neighbors. That’s why His call is still demanding, but it is not meant to make us anxious. Jesus is the door that is always open, no one can close it, except for us – if we turn away from His forgiveness. 

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Las Escrituras de la Misa de hoy afirman que el Reino de Dios es un don de Dios. Pero hay que saber acogerlo. Para ello, hay que vaciarse de sí mismo, dejar todos los títulos de propiedad y presentarse pobre ante Dios. Debemos reconocer que sólo Él nos puede salvar. Pero el Reino no es una realidad “abstracta.” Es la persona de Jesús, que se hace presente en la vida de la Iglesia y del mundo. 

“Entrar por la puerta estrecha” es seguir a Jesús, vivir y encarnar los mismos valores que Él vivió y que le llevaron a la muerte y a la Resurrección. No hay Resurrección, no hay salvación, sin esa comunidad de destino con Cristo Crucificado. 

La celebración de la Eucaristía mantiene para todos nosotros abierta la puerta de la salvación. Repitámoslo, esa puerta es Cristo. Por Él tenemos libre acceso al Padre. Por eso, participar en la Eucaristía es tomar parte ya en el banquete del Reino De Dios junto con toda la gente que Dios ha invitado para manifestar su amor con todos. Alegrémonos porque la salvación es universal y demos gracias a Dios que nos ha llamado sin méritos propios.