Luke 13: 22-30
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082122.cfm
Complete within us, Lord, we pray,
the healing work of your mercy
and graciously perfect and sustain us,
so that in all things we may please you.
Through Christ our Lord
(Prayer after Communion)
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There was a custom in rabbinic circles of Jesus’ time to test if one was able to explain the law of God on one foot. As strange as that may sound the very summary of the sacred law by Jesus in another passage can be recited on one foot with good balance: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.” In other words, what is the essence of the sacred law? What is the core belief around which one builds his life and his religious principles? Standing on one foot might seem strange to say the least and maybe even comical but it makes the point about getting to the kernel of truth.
What would be the essence of the law of the Church – Canon
Law. That body of rules, laws, regulations that governs our Catholic life. Even more concise, it is the salvation of
souls. All we do and believe in has as its
ultimate purpose, the salvation of our souls. Faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and
savior is essential, and all law and rule stand upon that.
Last Sunday we heard of a fire Jesus desires to cast upon
the earth not for peace but for division.
This Sunday we hear that our Lord challenges us to walk through a narrow
gate and about "wailing and grinding of teeth" and about "evil
doers." What is our Lord up to?
That discipleship means something. That
to follow Christ demands a certain level of determination and single
mindedness.
So, the context of our Gospel this Sunday is Jesus’
answer to a question from an interested follower but a Jew speaking to a Jew, a
respected teacher (Rabbi) about salvation: “Lord, will only a few people be
saved?” In the context of Jewish
understanding and culture, only the chosen people, the Jews, would be saved and
all else will be lost. The chosen can “stand on one foot” and be assured
that they alone will be with God in eternity.
It concerns privilege and entitlement not as a social or
economic condition but as one of religion. The thinking may go like this:
“Because I am among the chosen, following all the prescripts of the Law, I will
be saved. For those who are not, they
will be lost. It is my inheritance; my
entitlement because of who I am and the people I am descended from.”
This essence of salvation and who’s in and who is out
continues to be a subject of debate, especially in some Christian circles. For
example, are Catholics really Christians and are they saved or just caught up
in ritual and idolatry? Our Catholic sensitivities may find that offensive but
it is a real question in some circles.
But Jesus’ answer takes us well beyond restrictions and
it does cause us to question our sense of reward or even justice. Our Lord says: “Strive to enter through the
narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong
enough.” Does this simply say that only the skinny and strong will make the
mark? What if I can’t fit through that
“narrow” gate? It certainly seems to fit
the one foot position that it all boils down to one core truth.
Obviously, Jesus speaks in analogy yet his implication is
clear. The road to salvation is not about privilege or entitlement; it is about
the mercy of God for those who will accept it – the call to conversion.
Every human person is called by a loving God to accept
the proposal he has offered through his Son but God will never interfere in our
free choice to accept or reject this life changing gift. Our choice must be free for love must be
expressed without coercion. We see this truth in the beautiful first reading
from Isaiah as God gathers, “. . . nations of every language . . .”
God does not expect us all to be perfect, to be angels,
to be without sin and immaculate. It is through his grace alone that we can
find holiness but to freely center our lives on God alone and see all other
attachments in light of that faith. We can stand before him firmly planted on
both feet and still live with great hope.
Yet, what about the good, well-meaning non-Christian who
lives a life style, according to their religious belief, that is compatible
with Christianity in the morals and values upheld? As the Church of the Second Vatican Council
states clearly that those “who through no fault of their own” do not know
Christ yet follow a life that seeks the common good indeed can be saved. They
faithfully follow God as they have come to believe he is. God desires that all
be saved, as our Lord clearly implies in his answer today.
So, I think anyone of us could justify ourselves based
upon our behavior. I can hear myself asking the similar question of Jesus:
“Lord, I’m doing my best, won’t I be saved?” In other words, where do I stand
on the question of my own righteousness?
I’m a good Catholic. I treat others with charity. I try to forgive rather than hold a grudge. I
attend Mass regularly and know they place other flowers in Church besides poinsettias
and lilies. As a priest, I do my best to remain faithful to what God has called
me for his service recognizing my own failings and human weakness.
In the end we simply don’t know who is where after
death. While the Church clearly explains
the afterlife consists of three “levels:” heaven, purgatory and hell, we still
don’t’ know who is where, a truth known only to God. The formally canonized
Saints among us we know are with God in heaven, yet the vast majority of
humanity who has died, literally only God truly knows. So we rely on the mercy
and promise Christ has revealed to us and live a life compatible with the good
Christ has revealed.
So when I come to know the Son of God and I accept the
invitation to follow Christ then I place myself in the position of always
having to choose him and the way of the Gospel above other ways – the “narrow
gate.” We come to know him not on our terms but on his.
So the answer to the initial question: “Lord will only a
few be saved?” Hears, “No, all are
invited but those you may consider undeserving or not worth the time, may
ultimately be the ones who embrace the invitation far more than the
self-righteous or those who may feel they are entitled to it.” The last will be
first.
No matter where we feel we stand in line, let’s get on
about our Christian responsibility to do far more than just show up or rest on
our spiritual laurels. Sharing the
Gospel is more than just words. It is faith in action with a humble and
self-sacrificing heart after the example of Jesus himself. Stand on both feet
before the Lord and walk always in his way. The treasure of our Church indeed
shows us the way.
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