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Gospel: Luke 13:22-30
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 arisen 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 and you taught in our streets.’
Then 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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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If you’ve ever traveled through an airport, then you know the drill of going through security.
When it’s your turn, you must empty your pockets, remove your jacket, belt, and shoes, and place your luggage on a conveyor belt before walking through the metal detector.
That “narrow gate” has no room for your luggage; we ourselves can barely fit!
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Isn’t that an appropriate image for life?
We cannot take anything with us when we pass through the “narrow gate.” All we can bring with us are the intangibles: the good works we’ve done and the faith we’ve nurtured.
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In what ways might I grow in charity and faith?
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“Strive to enter through the narrow gate,” Jesus says, “for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.”
But, amazingly, those whose faith rests in the Son of God will squeeze through.
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Image credits: (1) Christianity.com (2) Smiths Detection (3) loveliveson.com