Grace, not race

THE STORY is told that at the final judgment, all people were gathered outside the gates of heaven. There was much anticipation and tension. Then, the announcement came: "All those who did not violate the First Commandment, take one step forward!" There was a great sound of jubilation and then thunderous sounds of footsteps.

Then came the same announcement for those who did not violate the Second, the Third, the Fourth, and the Fifth Commandment, and, though diminishing, there was still a great sound of jubilation and footsteps.

Finally, the announcement came: "Those who did not violate the Sixth Commandment, one step forward!" This was followed by a great silence-no jubilation, no footsteps could be heard. It was as if heaven stood still, until, finally, an old monk, after some moments of hesitation, summoned the courage to take one step forward.

Realizing the predicament that only one man would be saved, the crisis committee huddled at the side of Jesus, and then, the announcement: "General amnesty!" And the gates of heaven were opened amid sounds of jubilation. Then the feasting began, with the old monk at the center not quite knowing what he had just done.

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There is sequel to the story: There were those who refused to enter heaven after the general amnesty was given because they felt that God was unfair. After all, weren't they the ones who worked more for Him, and who were closely associated with Him? Why should sinners and everybody be given the privilege of a general amnesty?

According to the story, those who refused to enter were forever banned from heaven. Why? Because they failed to recognized the generosity of God. They still were selfish and relied on their own merits and "credentials."
Such is the fate of those who think they "deserve" heaven. Excuse me! None of us deserves heaven!

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I took the pain of relating the long story above to remind us of the message of today's Gospel (Luke 13, 22-30) i.e., the generosity of God, and the virtue of humility. Let us not limit God's love. Let us not measure God's love according to our own standards. Let us not resent God's generosity! Let us not compare ourselves with others in our work for the kingdom of God. Like the old monk, let us all do our very best, and leave the rest to God. Heaven is not so much a race but, more so, a grace.

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God has a hard time dealing with those who think that life is all about doing and achieving. There are people like that. OK. Fine. The problem comes when these people want to impose their own standards on other people as well. In such a situation, it is so easy to slide into the sin of self-righteousness and adopt the "Holier that thou" attitude that afflicts many of us consciously or unconsciously. Instead of saying, "I hope naman that with all my goodness and sacrifices, I will go to heaven," it is better to say, "Lord, I am a sinner, trusting in your mercy. I hope to somehow go to heaven!" Amen!

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Through the years, I have spread this one constant message: "God Loves You!" It's because that's all I really believe in! I know that I would not have become a priest and would not have remained a priest until now if I did not truly believe that God really loves me, unworthy as I am.

A lot of people have been touched by this message and have accepted it with humility and gratitude. But, there were people who accepted it in a self-righteousness way saying, "He should, because I am good and I am working so hard and sacrificing so much!" The worst of this kind was someone who said: "Yes, God loves me. He has good taste."

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I have just been to Davao at the Mergrande Ocean Resort to give a retreat to the faculty and personnel of St. Mary's College of Tagum City. I try to take time out to be with educators who, I believe, are often not given proper recognition and appreciation, in spite of their hard work and sacrifices. One of the activities we had was picking up a "prayer partner" for whom we will pray during and after the retreat. There were 141 participants and whose name did I pick up? That of Nestor Espedilla, a carpenter in the same school.

It was God's way of telling me and the group that, indeed, His ways are not our ways, His generosity and choices are beyond our control, and that He exalts the humble and the lowly in our midst. Indeed, the last will be the first.

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I thank God for the privilege of running errands for him in this life, unworthy as I am. Doing God's work is its own reward. I have met so many people and experienced meaningful moments because of my priesthood and my ministry. To God be the Glory. May we never lose sight of grace through it all. It is His work we do or, more precisely, we are allowed to do. May we never make it our own source of fame and glory. In the end, we come to Him in gratitude and humility, deeply aware that He is the reason for all that we are and for everything we do.

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, help me to see life as a pilgrimage and a journey, and going to heaven not so much as race but a grace. Amen.