RESERVED SEATS

“In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. I am going to prepare a place for you.” – John 14:2

“Please bring your own towels for your island hopping adventure,” said the receptionist at our honeymoon hotel. Upon arriving at the dock, our non-English speaking driver strangely asked for our towels as we got down from the car. He motioned as if to say, “Just trust me. I’ll take care of everything.”

We were a bit delayed in boarding the boat because I had to pay the tour guide for flippers and snacks. As I saw the people filling up the good spots, I sighed at the thought that we’d get the worst seats left. Then we saw our driver at the front of the boat signaling to us. To our surprise, we found our towels covering the best spot in the boat — the only two isolated seats right beside the captain. Our driver had reserved them for us.

There are times in our lives when we feel left behind. I did a year of volunteer service in the province right after college. When I returned, most of my AB Communication batch mates had gotten a head start as segment producers, TV hosts and even assistant directors. I had felt I gotten left behind. But after patiently waiting, working and praying, I now have my dream job as creative director of Bo Sanchez’s media ministry. All the while, God was reserving the best seat I could ask for. George Tolentino Gabriel (george.svp@gmail.com)

Reflection: Do you feel you’ve been left behind? God is reserving the best seat for you.

St. Pedro de San Jose Betancur, pray for us.

We do not have to invent anything to add to the story of salvation to make it attractive to others. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to move those who hear the Gospel to be converted by what they hear. It is enough for us to be faithful in presenting the Gospel in truth. Truth has its own power to convict those who hear it to respond to it.

26 When Paul came to Antioch in Pisidia, he said in the synagogue: “My brothers, children of the family of Abraham, and those others among you who are God-fearing, to us this word of salvation has been sent. 27 The inhabitants of Jerusalem and their leaders failed to recognize him, and by condemning him they fulfilled the oracles of the prophets that are read sabbath after sabbath. 28 For even though they found no grounds for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him put to death, 29 and when they had accomplished all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and placed him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These are now his witnesses before the people. 32 We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you that what God promised our fathers 33 he has brought to fulfillment for us, their children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.’”

6 “I myself have set up my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” 7 I will proclaim the decree of the Lord. The Lord said to me, “You are my son; this day I have begotten you.” (R) 8 “Ask of me and I will give you the nations for an inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession. 9 You shall rule them with an iron rod; you shall shatter them like an earthen dish.” (R) 10 And now, O kings, give heed; take warning, you rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice before him; with trembling, rejoice. (R)

There are many people who will say they can show you the path to true happiness, but only one person has the true answer — Jesus. If anyone is pointing you in Jesus’ direction, then feel free to listen to them; if not, turn away and find someone who can direct you in the ways and path of Jesus. Yes, many of the other options look very attractive initially but all of them fail to answer the most critical question: What’s next? What happens when we die? Only Jesus has the answer to that.

I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.

1 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. 4 Where I am going you know the way.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?”6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Numbers 16-18 

NO SALVATION OUTSIDE THE CHURCH?

When I was a parish priest in Japan, I met many Buddhists who lived impressive holy lives. They never converted to Christianity. The question arose: Would they be saved?

I cannot forget Mrs. Endo, an elderly lady in my parish, who was the only Christian in her family. She agonized over the eternal fate of her deceased husband and her parents. “Where are they? Are they in hell because they were not baptized?” she asked me several times.

This anxiety is based on the fact that the New Testament speaks of Christ as the only mediator, or the only way to God. This is reinforced by what Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel, “I am the Way.” Does this mean that all the good non-Christians missed the Way and therefore cannot be saved?

The expression “outside the Church there is no salvation” comes from the writings of St. Cyprian, a bishop of the 3rd century, a time when the Church was struggling to survive in a pagan world. The 4th Lateran Council declared in 1215: “There is but one universal Church of the faithful, outside which no one at all is saved.” And the Council of Florence taught in 1442 that “all those who are outside the Catholic Church... cannot share in eternal life... unless they are joined to the Catholic Church before the end of their lives” and that “nobody can be saved, no matter how much he has given away in alms and even if he has shed his blood in the name of Christ, unless he has persevered in the bosom and the unity of the Catholic Church.”

But in 1968, then Fr. Joseph Ratzinger wrote in one of his books, “Certainly we know, by our faith in divine mercy, that they (non-Christians) can be saved. How this happens, we leave to God.” The Second Vatican Council teaches, “The Catholic Church rejects nothing which is true and holy in these religions. She looks with sincere respect upon these ways of conduct of life which… often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men.” Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you grateful for being a member of the Church? Do you pray for those who do not know Christ?

Lord, thank You for calling me into the Catholic Church. My heart goes out to those who do not know You but try to follow their conscience. Save them, Lord, in Your love and compassion.