DO YOU HAVE THE TICKET?

Tuesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Dt 31:1-8/Mt 18:1-5.10.12-14

“Entering” is the verb for today. In the First Reading, Moses declares to the Israelites that Yahweh revealed to him that he will not cross the Jordan; therefore, he will not enter the Promised Land. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us that unless we change and become like little children we will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Who does not want to enter heaven, our Promised Land? No one. Let us therefore enter into a brief reflection on the lessons of today’s readings.

There are several propositions why Moses, who led the Israelites out of Egypt, ironically, was not able to enter the Promised Land. Some say that Moses sinned against Yahweh because he struck the rock twice before water gushed forth from it. They claim that it betrayed Moses lack of faith in Yahweh. Others say that he complained to Yahweh for the burden he bore on account of the Israelites who kept on blaming him for their hunger and thirst in the desert. Whatever the propositions being forwarded, it appears that not entering the Promised Land was a punishment for Moses’ momentary lack of faith in God.

Jesus warns His disciples then and us today that we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven without changing our hearts and acquiring childlike trust in God. Conversion from sin must lead to total faith in God who is a Father waiting to give us His kingdom. It is not true that there is no admission ticket to heaven. There is! Faith. Unless we have complete trust in God we will never enter His heaven.

Moses died without entering the Promised Land. He merely saw it from a distance. There is, of course, a whole world of difference between seeing the Promised Land and actually entering it. Could Moses have died with deep regrets? He endured a lot in freeing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and leading them through the wilderness but did not enter the Promised Land just because of a momentary lapse in faith.

However, while he did miss the Promised Land, Moses got into heaven though. When Jesus was transfigured on Mount Tabor, Moses’ appearance, talking with Jesus, proved that he who saw the Promised Land entered the kingdom of heaven nonetheless. Entering the kingdom of heaven is infinitely more important anyway.

But how will it be for us? At the twilight of life, will we just see heaven or enter it? Do we have the ticket? Let us not lose it!

God wants us to enter, not simply see.