Lk 13: 22-30
Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.
Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then in reply he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
But he will say, ‘I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrown out. Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Encountering Jesus in the Vulnerable
In today’s Gospel someone asked Jesus, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?”
Jesus’ response was, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.”
And he later says, “I don’t know where you are from” to those seeking entry into the master’s house.
These are hard words. What do they evoke in you and me?
Earlier this week, someone shared with me the story of a mutual friend who has become a penpal to individuals on death row. Her decision was inspired by hearing Matthew 25: “When I was imprisoned, you visited me.” And she thought, “I’ve never done that. I think I’m called to do that.” She took those words literally and acted on them.
Jesus tells us that “whatever you do for the least of my brothers and sisters, you do for me.”
Maybe “entering through the narrow gate” means taking initiative to encounter Jesus in the most vulnerable among us. Then he won’t say, “I don’t know where you are from.” Instead, he will remember having encountered us in those moments.
—Fr. Jim Goeke, SJ, serves at Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, CO as a Math teacher and superior of the Jesuit Community
Prayer
Lord Jesus, sometimes I am frightened and unsettled when you challenge us.
I want to believe that salvation is bestowed widely,
that you in your compassion recognize our goodness
even when we don’t realize our full loving potential.
Even so, help me to take to heart your words of challenge,
moving me to accompany you generously in your outreach to those in need. Amen.
—Fr. Jim Goeke, SJ