Â
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Is 66: 18-21; Heb 12: 5-7, 11-13; Luke 13: 22-30
Dc. Larry Brockman
What’s with this narrow gate talk any way? Wasn’t everybody saved by Jesus’ death and Resurrection? All we have to do is believe, right? So why the talk about a narrow gate.   Perhaps we should step back and look again at Salvation.Â
It is popular today to talk about how much God loves all of us, and that He saved all of us. Yes, everybody was saved by Jesus sacrifice on the Cross. But that doesn’t mean that we will all find our salvation. Jesus makes that quite clear in this parable. To find our salvation, we all need to strive for it. We need to seek out the Kingdom of God.Â
Notice that Jesus never answers the question of how many will be saved. The answer He gives is personally directed to his questioner. Jesus says, in effect, that it is not your concern how many are saved. Rather, your major concern is whether you will be saved. And so, Jesus advice is to “Strive to enter through the narrow gate”. Now the word “strive” was translated from the Greek word agonizomai. Our word agony comes from this word. So, the sense of Jesus’ meaning of “striving” then, is an agonizing, consuming effort. That is what Jesus is telling his questioner he needs to do to enter the narrow gate- to make an agonizing, consuming effort, to find his salvation.Â
Wouldn’t the same thing be true for you and I? That means several things when you think about it: First, it is not enough to just say “I believe”, rather, we have to know the Christ we profess to believe. We cannot be like the folks who ate and drank with Jesus in the parable and then were told: “I do not know where you are from”. That’s because these folks heard the message, but were not involved with their God. They were there- but were bystanders. So , the Master says he did not know them- twice. He goes on to say to these people- “Go away you evil doers?” Seems like such a harsh statement. Is it possible that you can come to Mass every week and you can be involved in parish activities but still not gain eternal life? These folks said that they ate and drank in the Master’s company. I think Jesus is telling us we not only need to believe, but we also must be in a committed, life-changing, personal relationship with Christ. Your relationship with Christ needs to be living, lasting, and ever growing, so that Christ affirms that He does have a relationship with you.Â
We can come to know Christ that way through prayer. We do that by making room for prayer in our busy lives. We especially need a two way conversation in our prayer, so that we hear God as he pulls us towards the narrow gate. Our parish is blessed with the Perpetual Adoration Chapel. Visiting there is a great way to get away from it all and get to know Christ better. It’s a great way to begin and sustain that two way conversation with God. Also, in a few weeks, our parish will begin “Why Catholic”. “Why Catholic” Discussion groups will be formed to explore the Catechism, another great way to know Christ, Because the groups will explore details about God and what we believe about faith, morals, sacraments, and prayer in our Church  Â
Second, we have to get rid of extra baggage. One can not get through a narrow entrance with arms full of heavy baggage. Our excess baggage may be things, things we are addicted to; too much TV; too much food; too much drink; or too much gossip; even too much football. Of course, I am not guilty of any of those things! Or, it may be baggage we carry by virtue of our attitudes: Laziness and fear come to mind. Sometimes we just don’t want to get up and go; it’s easier to just stay the course. Others are afraid to try something new for fear of failure   But, both of these attitudes amount to excess psychological baggage that we carry around with us, burdens that keep us from “striving” for God’s Kingdom.  Â
Third, we must actually strive to enter the narrow gate. Striving involves action- not a passive existence. All too often, our lives are characterized by a routine, a sort of settling into a comfort zone. It may be a busy life, even a very dynamic life, but just the same, it is a life that is mostly focused on our own families and friends and problems, while our relationship with God remains static, not dynamic. Being in a growing and living relationship with Christ means that we are open to risk.  Risk means moving out of our comfort zone, our immediate circle, and getting involved with the larger Church by “Striving” to live our lives as a Christian in service to others- responding to those little nudges you hear in your prayer life, things that Jesus may be calling you to do. These are ways to “strive” for your salvation on the way to the narrow gate. They are strivings which involve a commitment of the heart- not just of our time and effort. The call may still be close to home, in our families. Or we may be called to help outside of our immediate family. But it would mean things like helping someone who is sick or ill; becoming involved in a youth program, RCIA, or Prep; visiting and caring for the elderly; or helping with the poor and marginalized. Holy Family has very active ministries to the sick, youth programs, Prep, and Rest Home Ministries. And our St. Vincent De Paul Society chapter operates a store in Clermont, and provides on-campus counseling and aid to the community. Additionally, our Just Faith program is identifying other ways for us to share our talents with the less fortunate.  Â
The Gospel ends with the people who think they knew Jesus, but who are on the outside, seeing others from all over enjoying the Kingdom instead of themselves. And we hear “the last shall be first, and the first shall be last”. Truly, it matters little how well regarded we are in the eyes of society. All that matters to God is what is in our hearts. We have to strive with our hearts, minds, and bodies to be strong and enter that narrow gate. Unfortunately life is like that- an agonizing, consuming commitment to Christ is needed to get through the narrow gate o the heavenly banquet.    Â