16th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus explains not only what the kingdom of heaven is like, but what our world is and what will happen on judgment day. Jesus also calls our attention to spiritual growth and faith in Him, so as not to let the weeds of the world distract us from attaining the kingdom of heaven. We always talk about heaven, so how can you describe heaven? There exists many definitions, descriptions and explanations of what heaven is, but one of my favorite is the one given by Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska. It states, “Today I was in heaven, in spirit, and I saw its unconceivable beauties and the happiness that awaits us after death. I saw how all creatures give ceaseless praise and glory to God. I saw how great is happiness in God, which spreads to all creatures, making them happy; and then all the glory and praise which springs from this happiness returns to its source; and they enter into the depths of God, contemplating the inner life of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, whom they will never comprehend or fathom. This source of happiness is unchanging in its essence, but it is always new, gushing forth happiness for all creatures.” So if this is what heaven is, it gives us a better perspective on why Jesus elaborated on and explained what heaven is like. So do you want to make it heaven? Are you willing to work hard to attain it as the wheat and avoid the weeds that distract or make you not bear good fruit? What can we do to make it to heaven? Jesus in John chapter 15, verse 4 to 9, tells us how we can make it to heaven when He said “remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” What does remaining in the Lord mean? How can we remain in the Lord? Remaining in the Lord entails: Firstly, firmness of faith in God through Prayer and participation in the Sacraments especially in the Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation. Secondly, answering our call to discipleship by proclaiming and living out the gospel, through acts of charity and love. So my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pay attention to the weeds in our midst by focusing on God and remaining in Him through prayer, acts of charity and love, so as to remain in Him and attain the kingdom of heaven.
