A sermon on Luke 13:22-30

By Fr. Mike Paraniuk
HCP columnist

The Word of God can be summed up in one word: Salvation. 

The Bible is God's explanation of what is salvation, why we need salvation, who saves us and how are we saved. The Hebrew word for salvation is "yasa," which means "to save, to help in distress, rescue, deliver, set free."

We need salvation because when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, the entire human race became separated from God. We could not get back to God, which means none of us could ever get to eternal life in Heaven. We needed to be "saved" from eternal death. 

God was not happy about this because He made us to live forever with Him. God knew we were powerless to do anything about it. Only one person could save us: Jesus. 

The name Jesus says it all: "God saves."

Jesus is God who saved us by taking upon Himself the punishment we deserved. He nailed it to the cross. Jesus restored us to a right relationship with God called "righteousness."

What Jesus did for us is called "grace," which is God's Love in action. Eternal life is ours once again.

This is what Jesus did for you. What will you do to show your gratitude to Him? 

My biblical teacher in seminary, Fr. Eugene Maly, always said, "God's grace is free, but it isn't cheap." 

God commands you to make every effort to have a personal relationship with Jesus if you want to get through the Heavenly Gates. 

“Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail." (Luke 13:24.) The door is narrow because there is only one way to salvation. We can only enter the narrow gate by faith. “Lord, I don’t got this. I need your help.” Faith will not let you fail.

You have to "work hard" to have a real, personal, and deep relationship with Jesus. What is the work you must do? Jesus gives you His grace as a gift. What must you do to make it come alive in your heart? I'll use my newfound relationship with my sister to explain.

With the passing of my parents, the only family member living close to me is my sister, Michelle. She is 62 and I am 74. This age gap sent us on different paths. 

I left home for the seminary at 14, got ordained, and devoted my efforts to ministry. Michelle devoted her life's work to starting her own air purifying company called m.a.c Paran Industries. We were together at family celebrations but they were few and far between. We never really spent the time talking with each other or getting to know each other. I could not even remember how to get to her house. I would be filled with deep regret at the end of my life if I missed the opportunity to connect with my sister.

I began the work of reaching out to Michelle. I started calling her on the phone frequently to see how she was doing. I moved my camper from East Fork Lake to her campsite on the Ohio River (Ryan's Run) to be near her and her many friends. I never knew she was so popular. 

We camp together every weekend. We eat and talk about our lives. I learned things about Michelle I never knew, such as she was inducted into the Glen Este High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. Sad to say I discovered this 34 years after the fact. Michelle and I agreed to begin anew to make every effort to be part of each others lives. 

Creating a friendship with Jesus is very similar. 

Talk with Him in prayer. Have faith that He cares for you. Learn about Jesus in the Bible. James 4:8 says "Come near to God and he will come near to you." Celebrate God with other friends of Jesus in church. Did not Jesus say where two or three are gathered, I am there? 

Philippians 4:6 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Isaiah 41:13 says, "For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, 'Fear not, I am the one who helps you.'"

Hellen Keller who was blind wrote, "Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light." God's light shines most brightly in the dark. Make every effort to find Him.  

Blessings...Fr. Mike.