Narrow Door

Today’s Gospel Text:  He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And some one said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them, 24 "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us.' He will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.' 26 Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' 27 But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!' 28 There you will weep and gnash your teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. 29 And men will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last." Luke 13:22-30

Reflection: Why did Jesus not directly answer the most important question, which not all may ask and yet could trouble many?

"Lord, will those who are saved be few?" (vs. 23b)

In not answering the question directly Jesus is leaving space open for the many to be saved.

He is also revealing to us those categories likely to be saved and those who are not going to be saved is not already ordained or pre-destined by God as some would hold.

This also means that each one on this earth have an opportunity to be saved if only they choose to enter by the narrow door.  

Jesus is that door through which men must enter in order to be saved; this door, Jesus Christ, which is that narrow door that leads to eternal life.  (cfr. Jn. 10: 9)

Therefore, according to the parable, those who are not saved will be the ones who will be on the outside of the door, because they never tried to enter in but yet did plenty of good works in his name.

Apart from him the work, the labor, that is put in is that of iniquity and so they are termed by Jesus as “workers of iniquity”.

Finding themselves outside they will now knock and knock, and question the door keeper on why in spite of their good work, done in his name, they should not enter through the door of life.

Too Late! Once the door is closed through death or deliberate separation by choice then there is no hope.

No wonder there is a great need felt by the many in the Church, even in our days, to carry the saving message of the gospel to all men, so that people of good will may believe in it and work earnestly in him to carry on with his mandate that saves.

                                                                              

Prayer:  Lord, I too want to be your instrument, willing to enter by the narrow door which is you.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Good Works

Today’s Gospel Text:  And behold, one came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?" 17 And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." 18 He said to him, "Which?" And Jesus said, "You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 20 The young man said to him, "All these I have observed; what do I still lack?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. Matt 19:16-22

Reflection: We know that mere good deeds can’t save us from eternal damnation and St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians reminds us of it:

  

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God - not because of works, lest any man should boast. Eph 2:8-9

Whether we work to liberate people from every form of oppression, and alleviate the sufferings of the marginalized or work towards the emancipation of the poor and those on the periphery of society or visit the sick and the homeless or feed the hungry or clothe the naked, it can by itself never gain for us eternal life.  

But does he not assure us in the gospel of Matthew; eternal life for feeding the hungry and the poor and for clothing them and visiting them in prison?

Many interpret Matthew’s text by not reading it in its context and not interpreting it the way the Lord has clearly presented it to us.

Does the Lord also not warn us when he says: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”?  Matt 7:21

So the key is to do all things is by abiding in Christ and doing it according to his will.

In other words, it means the work of faith, beginning with Jesus and ending with Jesus.

There are many who have plunged themselves in works of mercy and in so called Christian charity without keeping the mandate of Christ and his vision for humanity close at heart.

The gospel that they preach is that of mere human emancipation based on materialism and at the most human development; a purely economic or socio-psychological exercise.

For them the gospel of Christ is powerless to change society and if in any way Christ exists in their agenda then it is to gather funds in his name or as a cover of light to hide the dark.

Prayer: O God, the source of all goodness, help us to imitate you and your good ways which you have revealed to us in your Son Jesus that we may always walk in his grace.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Mystery of Life

Today’s Gospel Text: He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And some one said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them, 24 "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us.' He will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.' 26 Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' 27 But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!' 28 There you will weep and gnash your teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. 29 And men will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last." Luke 13:22-30

Reflection: Did anyone tell you that all will be saved from damnation because he is a God of love? If you believed in them then remember; beginning with that person even your salvation is at stake.

How dare they make the master of all truth a liar or make his chosen servants the evangelist a liar? If you address truth as lie, then what is left for you except to dwell in lies all along life’s journey unto eternal damnation?

Woe to the wise of the world, the learned and the educated who despise the wisdom of the God of all ages. It is his action of love to preserve those that walk righteously in his ways.

Yes only a few will be saved and if you have to condemn such assertion as fundamentalism or by any other name without ascertaining the truth of the matter then it is to your own condemnation.

The choices we make today have eternal ramifications and Jesus' warning about the few being saved is not to be taken lightly. It should make us see the truth behind it and more so the price that he paid in order to bring this truth to us.

The death he endured just so that we may know the eternal truth and the eternal value of our soul could help us in not rejecting what Jesus has to say.

The cross of Christ speaks a powerful message; that eternity is offered to us as a gift by living out the challenges that comes through faith in Jesus.

There will be many to ridicule and mock as they did at the cross, willing to shed innocent blood in order to accomplish their agenda for a just world achieved through pseudo equality, justice and brotherhood and through vile suppression and wrong doing. 

Prayer:  Lord, in your mercy open our minds to understand the depth of the mystery you have revealed in the revelation of Jesus and his cross and resurrection. 

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Increased Righteousness

Scripture/Bible:For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 21 "You have heard that it was said to the men of old, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.' 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; 26 truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny. Mt. 5:20-26

Reflection:  We look up to people in power and high offices and think that they are better than us and it could be true in many an instance.

When it comes to priests we surely think the best of them and more so when they rise up the ladder of hierarchy.  

The Scribes and the Pharisees whom we may look down upon on account of the exposure of Jesus were in reality looked up to by the masses in their days.  It is the presence of the light of Christ that exposes them and the naked truth beyond their hypocrisy. 

Imagine Jesus in our times saying similar things; “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Bishops, Priests and religious, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

A statement like that could shock many of us and we may wonder who then can be saved, more so since them whom we thought to be perfect or far better than ourselves are on the road to perdition. 

There could be various types of righteousness;  The righteousness that comes from the Law, the one that comes from the sacred office, the one that comes from the cloth or the external paraphernalia’s, or from one of those charismatic gifts, or the through the healing received or through some of the fruit of the spirit. 

None of these righteousness’s can be of help to enter the kingdom as they in themselves are not enough to enter the kingdom of God.  Our righteousness has to exceed all these, it has to be the righteousness that comes through Jesus.

     

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction. Rom 3:21-22

Prayer: “Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of my enemies; make thy way straight before me.”  Ps 5:8

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Jesus the Only Way

Today’s Gospel:  And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? 37 For what can a man give in return for his life? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." Mark 8:34-38

Reflection:  The God of Salvation speaks; presenting himself as the key to their salvation: "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.

I could imagine the great men inviting people to follow them either with a great eloquence or their personal charm or with money or with some intrigue or hope.  Has there been anyone who has invited his followers to be at the receiving end.  Kingdoms and regimes have been overthrown on the basis of hope and gratifications in our days.

But Jesus offers no external hope except the hope of a life saved which has always been questioned; who has seen it?

In this offer of Salvation Jesus proclaims himself as the key to salvation as in Jn. 14:6. It is not just his values or principles or commandment of love or instructions but himself; to lose one’s life for His sake and the gospel’s (which is about Him).

Prayer:  The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Ps 18:2

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Few Will Be Saved

Scripture: He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And some one said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them, 24 "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Luke 13:22-24

Reflection: "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" It is their question, I mean the disciples. But a question of such gravity could not have come out of the blue. The text before their question tells us that, “He (Jesus) went on his way through towns and villages, teaching.”

And if you think that this question of who is going to be saved and who is not bothers you then remember that it bothered the disciples too. They must have heard Jesus teaching about it and yet it looked like they couldn’t digest this one fact and hence the query.

Unfortunately, among the many that will not make it are the ones who actually seek to enter. Hence forget those who do not seek to do so they will never enter (vs.24).

Prayer:  Lord, save us O Lord, while you are near to us.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us