Sunday Meditation: Getting Through the Narrow Gate

While on the road to Jerusalem on the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, Jesus is asked a question very much like the one He was asked five weeks ago on the Fifteenth Sunday. Then a scholar of the law asked Jesus what must he do to be saved?  Today’s Gospel may be a follow up question given how related it is.  Someone today asked Him, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?"  Perhaps the sermon that Jesus provided in the intervening weeks led this person today to wonder if many can be saved since Jesus’s teaching strikes one as daunting. 

 

Jesus passed through towns and villages,

teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.

Someone asked him,

"Lord, will only a few people be saved?"

He answered them,

"Strive to enter through the narrow gate,

for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter

but will not be strong enough.

After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,

then will you stand outside knocking and saying,

'Lord, open the door for us.'

He will say to you in reply,

'I do not know where you are from.

And you will say,

'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.'

Then he will say to you,

'I do not know where you are from.

Depart from me, all you evildoers!'

And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth

when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

and all the prophets in the kingdom of God

and you yourselves cast out.

And people will come from the east and the west

and from the north and the south

and will recline at table in the kingdom of God.

For behold, some are last who will be first,

and some are first who will be last." 

~Lk 13:22-30

 

Dr. Brant Pitre shows how this question was on the minds of many in Israel in Jesus’ day.

Do not be a stranger to Jesus.  Do love Jesus is to want to do His will.  Who is strong enough to enter that door?  No one.  You can only enter through God’s grace.

Now if you search the homilies, you will probably get an overwhelming majority that preaches on the dangers of being one of those who cannot enter through the narrow door.  And I had lined up any number of them to choose as the pastoral homily.  Until I came across this from Bishop Barron from three years ago.  Keep in mind that Bishop Barron has been excoriated for believing that it is possible that all will be saved.

“Hope is not based on human accomplishment.  Hope is based on what God has accomplished in Christ.”  I am sympathetic to Bishop Barron’s view.  But don’t take it for granted.  Work to enter through the narrow door.

 

 

Sunday Meditation: "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.”

 

 

How about this very lovely “Walk and Follow Jesus” by John Michael Talbot.

 

Oh that is so lovely.