Make Every Effort to Enter the Kingdom of God – Weekly Reflection by Rev. Fr Stevenson Olowolagba
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News

On this 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, the faithful are called to reflect deeply on the path to salvation, guided by the readings from Isaiah 66:18-21, Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13, and Luke 13:22-30. Rev. Fr Stevenson Olowolagba, Parish Priest of St Dominic Catholic Church, Ifewara, Osun State, delivers a compelling message urging believers to make intentional and wholehearted efforts to gain admittance into the Kingdom of God.

God’s Salvation is Universal
Fr Olowolagba emphasises that God’s plan for salvation transcends all nations. While Israel played an instrumental role in the divine plan—as some were chosen to serve as priests and Levites (Isaiah 66:21)—the mission has expanded to the universal Church of true believers (Matthew 28:18-20). Salvation is not exclusive; it is a gift open to all who seek God sincerely.

Divine Discipline: A Path to Strength
The reflection highlights that God disciplines and corrects His children, guiding them through trials, temptations, and challenges. These hardships—ranging from personal sins to worldly adversities—are not caused by God but are consequences of human actions and a corruptible world. God allows such trials to teach, strengthen, and draw believers closer to Him.

Fr Olowolagba warns against despising God’s discipline, noting that many suffer needlessly because they ignore His guidance. Recognising the role of divine correction can transform hardships into opportunities for growth, holiness, and spiritual maturity.

Holiness and Effort: Keys to Salvation
The priest urges believers to pursue peace and holiness actively. Holiness is essential to live in communion with God (1 Peter 1:15-16), and salvation requires genuine, dedicated effort. While curiosity about spiritual matters is common, it is insufficient; wholehearted commitment and timely action are necessary (2 Corinthians 6:2). The reflection reminds the faithful that salvation is urgent, and the separation between the saved and the lost is real, with eternal consequences for those who neglect their spiritual duties.

As believers step into the new week, Rev. Fr Olowolagba encourages all to live with awareness of God’s presence and guidance. The reflection is a call to embrace discipline, pursue holiness, and make every effort to secure a place in the Kingdom of God. May this message inspire faithful action, peace, and divine closeness in daily life.

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21st SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR C.
Readings: 1st Isaiah 66:18-21, 2nd Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13.
Gospel Luke 13:22-30.

Theme: Make Necessary Efforts to Gain Admittance into the Kingdom of God.

Reflection: Peace of the Lord be with you all, beloved brethren in Christ Jesus. The focus of the Prophet Isaiah is about the final salvation that is to come, embraces all nations and not only the Jewish nation.
God’s Salvation is for all: The remnant of Israel has an instrumental mission in this plan of God, “Then I will choose some of them to be Priests and Levites (Isa 66:21). Thus, the mission once given to Israel becomes a mission given to a universal Church of true believers in God (Matt 28:18-20).
God disciplines believers: He chastens, corrects and rebukes believers. We must always remember this: God cannot be tempted by evil but man can be tempted by Satan. Sometimes, man’s own sinful and selfish lusts by the corruptible world in which he lives, through temptations, devastations, destruction, accidents, sickness and death, trials and problems in peoples lives are challenges confronting humanity on daily basis. When we face some trials and sin in life, God stirs us to stand fast and to conquer the trial or turn away from the sin. God guides, directs, teaches, trains and instructs us all along the way making us stronger in life and drawing us closer and closer to Him. Sometimes, when we fall and cave in to trial and sin, God lets us reap what we have sown: whatever happens, we must never forget that we are the cause of these trials and sins, God doesn’t cause them. Too often we pay little attention to the discipline and correction of God and pull off the spirit of God, to the little consequences and sufferings of our hearts.
Why do we suffer so much in the world? Because of our sins and irresponsibility, we have not heeded to the discipline and correction of God. If we heed to the discipline of God, this would mean that much of the great sufferings in the world would never happen.
Lesson for us: do not despise the discipline of God. The duty of every believer is to make every effort to pursue peace and holiness, the believer is to do all he/ she can to live at peace with everyone and to lead others to live in peace. Holiness of life is essential, if a person is to live with God (1 Peter 1:15-16). The grace of God is poured upon humanity through the death of the Son of God. Many are curious but not enough to really seek after the Lord for personal salvation. Whole hearted dedication and effort are required to gain salvation. The accepted time to be saved is now! (2 Cor 6:2). The saved shall be separated from the lost. The lost will experience pain and death because they didn’t make enough effort to be saved. Beloved brethren in Christ Jesus, let us make proper use of the time at hand.
As you step out this new week, May you vividly experience Divine presence in your life.
Peace of the Lord be with you all.