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. The narrow gate image may well be a sign not of God wanting to keep people out of the kingdom but rather a reminder to us that we must leave behind certain things; any baggage that keeps us out such as our own sin, attachments, our greed, pride, selfishness. You can’t walk through a narrow door with a backpack stuffed with many things. Just ask anyone who has flown on a plane about that one.
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.
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. It certainly seems to fit the one foot position that it all boils down to one core truth.
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. The gate is Jesus himself and our relationship with him.
Every 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 considering 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 lifestyle, 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 most 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, what does this mean for this week?
1. Take time to
examine: What “baggage” am I carrying that won’t fit through the narrow door?
2. Ask God in prayer: Lord help me let go of pride, anger, or selfishness.
3. Do one concrete act of love – reconcile with
someone, volunteer, or spend time with someone in need.
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.
Let us Pray:
O God who cause the minds of the faithful
to unite in a single purpose,
grant your people to love what you command
and to desire what you promise,
that amid the uncertainties of this world,
our hearts may be fixed on that pace
where true gladness in found.
(Collect from Roman Missal)
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