In God’s Design Exclusivism Has No Place
Dear Parishioners,
Our first scripture reading today from the prophet Isaiah reminds us of the universal invitation to worship God—a call addressed to all people and nations. This was a radical departure from the theological belief among some Jews that Gentiles were not among the chosen and were therefore excluded from having a relationship with God. To their chagrin, Isaiah challenges this belief, explaining that God can be encountered outside of Jerusalem.
He speaks of God's glory, which draws all people and places to Himself, to Jerusalem. Nobody should be excluded from Him; from those returning from exile to those who are drawn by the glory of the Lord. It is a great summons for the Gentiles, together with Jews of the diaspora, to join in temple worship. This stirring message reminds us that God made us for Himself; to Him we belong, and without Him, we are simply nothing.
From among those who assembled for worship, some will be called and commissioned to evangelize. At the end of every Eucharistic celebration, we are sent forth with the priest's or deacon's mandate: "The Mass is ended, go and proclaim the Good News." In Isaiah’s new vision, the Gentiles figuratively take on the task of announcing the "glory" of Yahweh. This amounts to a strong and unconventional universalism, with Jews and Gentiles worshiping God together in the temple.
As Jesus makes His way to Jerusalem, He is asked questions, and His responses form part of His catechesis on Christian ethics for our earthly pilgrimage. He speaks of the obstacles His followers will encounter, using the imagery of the narrow gate and the locked door to further explain the implications. He points out the necessity of qualifications for admittance and the dangers of tardiness or indifference in responding.
These parables teach us important lessons. We cannot take our faith for granted; we must be humble and diligent. In God’s design, exclusivism has no place, and conversion is an ongoing process. Laxity may well make it impossible to enter through the narrow gate or find entry at the unforeseen hour. The mission has its rewards. The parables are a warning to Christians in the early church, for whom vigilance and repentance are ongoing themes.
Racism and indifference are serious sins and cause grievous injury to the body of Christ. Our Christian responsibilities do not end when we return home from Mass on Sunday morning. We are called to new challenges in living our faith. Courage!
Sincerely Yours In Christ,
Rev. Vitalis Anyanike
Pastor
