TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

(Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29; Psalm 68(67); Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a; Luke 14:1, 7-14)

Theme: Challenges of Our Journey to The Homeland

My brothers and sisters, we must continually and humbly thank the Lord for establishing a home for all His believing children. A home like a mountain unshaken by the gates of hell, secured by the precious blood of the Lamb of God. Hence, God dwells here, and His believing people meet to obtain mercy and graces that empower faith, and assurances of a final place of rest.

Our home is not a physical or geographic location like Mount Sinai, where our ancestors in faith trembled in awe at God's fiery and magnificent presence. The author of the second reading describes Mount Zion as a welcoming, non-condemning place, not defined by the works of the law, but by faith in Christ. It is open to all seeking to receive redemptive graces for our final home.

As baptised believers in our Lord Jesus, we are already part of the home for the firstborn citizens. We have been enrolled in heaven and are in communion with God, the spirits of those already perfected, and our Lord Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant. His sprinkled blood continually says to us: “You are forgiven, I love you, come to me, follow me, you are secured under my shield, my life is yours, and I will always be with you to lead you to the heavenly home.”

Those words remind us that we are part of a family fortified by the sacramental actions of our Lord Jesus. But we live in a world that tests our efforts on Mount Zion. We are often troubled by agents of secularism and moral relativism, and at times weary of the struggle to become virtuous, establish a just society, a harmonious family, secure citizenship, and lead a fulfilling life.

We are humbled by these challenges and struggles, which remind us that we can only trust in our Lord, who has assured us of His home for the desolate, the confused, and the lost. Thus, let us heed His voice of wisdom, stay humble in the face of life’s difficulties, cooperate with grace for life transformation, virtuous living, and victory over setbacks and human failures.

Hence, our human efforts must be aligned with the Lord, who alone, not man or woman, guarantees sustainable successes based on eternal truths and the purpose of our existence.

Therefore, we draw closer to the Lord, individually and collectively, for all are invited to Mount Zion. Consequently, we must assist those burdened by the demands of our homeland in Christ Jesus and ensure that no one is left behind. We must journey with all—widows, orphans, documented, undocumented, and the poor; all are welcome in this home of rest and peace.