Choose the narrow gate

Aug 21st, 2016 Sunday homily –Fr.Francis Chirackal CMI

Is 66:18-21; Heb 12:5-7, 11-13; Lk 13:22-30

In 1991 a Gallup poll came with very interesting data. It showed that 78 percent of Americans expect to go to heaven when they die. However, many of them hardly ever pray, read the Bible, or attend church or practice any formal religious faith. They admit that they live to please themselves instead of God. If you were to ask these people why they believed they were going to heaven, they would not know “how” they were going to do so. Today’s gospel poses two related questions and one answer.  The questions are whether, “Will many be saved,” and, “Will we be among the saved ones.” In answering these questions what Jesus tells us is, ‘enter through the narrow gate’.

Prophet Isaiah in the first reading consoles and encourages the Israelites who returned from the exile and saw the sad condition of Jerusalem, by prophesying the future glory of Jerusalem. St.Paul in the second reading speaks of the hardships required in winning the reward of the Kingdom of God.

 The Gospel today narrates an episode that took place along the road that Jesus was going through from Galilee to Jerusalem. I wonder what would be our answer if some one asks us this question. Most Jews, for example, thought that virtually all of them would be saved, except for few of the worst sinners. And this attitude may have prompted the question asked of Jesus in Luke 13: 22-30 "Are there few who are being saved?" Jesus' answer was truly revealing and helps us to understand something about the nature of the eternal kingdom. 

As Jesus says, the eternal kingdom will be like a joyous feast prepared by God for those whom He knows. He well explains that it will be a place of joy forever. The eligibility to enter the banquet hall of heaven depends upon whether ‘He knows’ us, not whether ‘we know Him’. What does it mean when He says, whether He knows us, while He knows us from the moment of our conception. Here the act of ‘knowing’ implies a ‘properly responded call’ from our part. To establish a relationship, there should be a positive ‘Yes’ answer from our part. There may be hundreds of responses from us at different occasions and situations. But here the question is whether it was the right response ‘pleasing to God’ or whether it helped ‘pleasing ourselves’. What pleases God, as Jesus say’s, is our choice to enter through the narrow gate of selfless sacrificial love, focusing our eyes on God. Here our goal should be the Kingdom of God.

Jesus, in this passage, indicates that there will be no ‘free pass’ or ‘all pass’ system, but needs individual’s self effort with God-given grace to enter the Kingdom of God though it is open to all without restrictions. There is no restriction to attain eligibility to enter the Kingdom of God. There will be many who are denied of entry, frustrated and angry at that moment as nobody can attain the Kingdom of God accidently or by arguments. We need to live for the Kingdom of God while we are living in this world in our human body, choosing the way God has given us towards our eternal joy.

Jesus also declares that many others will enter from all parts of the world and indeed “some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last." He pictures many others who come from every direction, who also gain admittance to the banquet hall. These represent people who will have prepared for the eternal life following the path of faith that God has revealed to them, according to their situations and practices, which are beyond our perception. Therefore, each one’s role is to follow the path revealed to them by God in a God-oriented life of faith, as it is the same God who invites everyone to eternal life from different directions. God’s justice has its own breadth and width which human intellect or reason can’t understand.  The only thing we must recognize is that, the way into the heavenly celebrations is narrow, but wide open to accommodate any number, who has made a sincere effort with perseverance. There is but one way to enter, one door, and that door is “narrow” whatever may be the time or location. There is always room for hope and joy. No religion teaches an easy way to heaven as we see in all of the authentic religions.

Therefore let us make sure that we will be included in the inside-group by choosing the narrow gate, when we live in this world. A life based on the gospel message makes this life and life-after joyful in God. Faith-filled and Spirit-led lives always makes a difference enabling all to rejoice in God. God bless you.