The gospel for Wednesday of the 30th week in Ordinary Time is taken from Luke 13:22, 30th verse. 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 risen 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, you taught in our streets. And 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.
There’s something clear in this passage that Jesus is very intently on trying to get people to understand. He talks about it in the norm of how you receive the gifts of life with God after death. And the image is clear. Many people think it’s one way, when in truth it’s really a very different way and a more difficult way. The narrow gate and what is the narrow gate? Understanding that the work of God in the world in the person of Jesus is all about conversion, transformation, a change of heart.
Many of the scribes and Pharisees would not consider that to be something important, but only that they belong to the right group, that they belong to the temple, and therefore they are sure that they will have a place with God. It’s not about what religion we belong to, it’s about how intimate we have become with a transforming spirit. It is our inheritance. After your reflection, I will close with a prayer. Closing prayer Father, awaken us always to the real task that you have given to us. One that is not given without our need to be a part of the process.
We need to go through a death and resurrection. We need to do what you taught us how to do so that we can become the people you call us to be. And we ask this in Jesus name. Amen.