October 29, 2014

Luke 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 49in 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. http://www.usccb.org/bible/approved-translations

The Narrow Gate … for Me

In today's Gospel, someone inquires about salvation.  At various time throughout our lives we may find ourselves also wondering about our own salvation or whether we will get to heaven. Like many people I take a casual look at my life and think, I pray, I go to church, I don't hurt anyone, I do a few acts of charity. I should make it into heaven, I should be saved.

Jesus says, "strive to enter through the narrow gate."  What that means for me is that to be a disciple takes more than a few good deeds.  Being a disciple means more than not hurting others but going out of my way to be kind, to be generous, to be patient. Being a disciple is more than just going to church but being the presence of Christ in the world.

At the end of the day I need to ask, did I act with kindness, generosity, patience, love?

—Margaret Horner earned a Master of Pastoral Studies degree from St. Francis de Sales Seminary. She currently serves as the Director of Liturgy at Gesu Parish, Milwaukee, WI.

Prayer

Life-Giving God, may you always be my hope, my trust, my riches, my delight, my joy and gladness, my rest and quiet, my food, my refreshment, my refuge and help, my wisdom, portion and possession, my treasure in which my mind and heart shall be rooted forever, fixed, firm and immovable.  Amen.