21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 66: 18 – 21
Hebrews 12: 5 – 7, 11 – 13
Luke 13: 22 – 30
A cute story is told about Satan. Satan was in a nasty mood. It was unthinkable. Souls
entering hell were at an all-time low. So Satan called for a meeting of all his minions. When the
gathering of devils convened, Satan told them that they must come up with a new way of winning
souls for hell. Focus groups, discussions, and presentations followed.
A very young devil gave the first report. He suggested that a real demonstration of the power
of hell should be given: fires, pestilence, floods, violence, etc. When people see how powerful Satan
is, he said, it will win over souls wishing for Satan’s protection. Satan shook his head. He said this
plan would backfire because, when bad things start happening, most people turn to God, not the
devil.
Another devil took the floor. His report suggested that Satan start buying people’s souls by
offering them wealth and power. Satan responded that this had worked in the past, but only so many
people can have wealth and power, so the number of souls this plan would capture for hell would be
small. Besides, Satan added, generally good people don’t care all that much about wealth and power.
They recognize wealth and power as temptations.
Many other devils offered their group’s suggestions, but no new idea for bringing more souls
into hell was found. The convention began to grow despondent when from the back of the hall the
oldest devil in hell, other than Satan himself, spoke up. Everyone grew quiet and listened. He said
that the secret to increasing hell’s population is really quite easy, that the only thing that needs to be
done is to whisper into each human’s ear: “Don’t hurry or worry – there is plenty of time left for you
to turn to God.”
We go to church often enough. We make our donations. But, the way to God demands more
than casual involvement. Two weeks ago, the Gospel reminded us that we do not know when the
master of the house will return. What will the Master discover when He returns? Will we be ready, or
will we have procrastinated?
As He continues his fateful journey to Jerusalem, Jesus answers the question as to how
many will be saved by answering how to enter into salvation and how urgent it is to strive now,
before the Master closes the door. Jesus wants us to ask the question: Are you prepared to be saved,
choosing the narrow gate?
Most cities of the ancient world were surrounded by walls that had large gates in them.
Jerusalem had about twelve gates that were large enough for two-way traffic. People
moved through these gates to do their business, to shop and to visit their friends. These gates,
however, were closed at night, in case the city came under attack by an invader. There were also
smaller gates through which individual citizens could be allowed into the city by the guards without
exposing the city to danger. These smaller, or narrower gates were what Jesus was talking about.
These smaller gates were like turnstiles – only one person at a time could enter through them.
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 66: 18 – 21
Hebrews 12: 5 – 7, 11 – 13
Luke 13: 22 – 30
Jesus repeats Isaiah's image of a final banquet. He does not want his followers to presume
they can just slip through to enter his Father’s house. Jesus is not looking for casual acquaintance
from us but for real dedication. The crowd will press for entry, but the door will be too narrow to
admit all. The less alert will be forced to stay outside and appeal in vain for entry. They will say that
they ought to be allowed to enter because they were acquainted with Jesus during his earthly life.
The irony of Jesus' image is that the narrow gates are the proper way to enter the Kingdom precisely
because they are just wide enough to receive a single person – anyone who is willing to do sacrificial
service for the glory of God. In other words, entering through the narrow gate denotes a steady
obedience to the Lord Jesus -- overcoming all opposition and rejecting every temptation. It is
the narrow way of unconditional and unremitting love. Mere faith in Jesus and membership in His
Church by Baptism can not guarantee salvation. Some of the Fathers of the Church interpreted
the narrow door as that small place in the heart where one says "yes" or "no" to what one knows to
be true. It is the one place through which no external force can enter to shape or coerce one's
choices. This place is what Teresa of Avila calls the "center of the soul" wherein God dwells. That
means that Jesus is the narrow gate, the way by which any person must enter the Heavenly city.
Three surprises in Heaven: Bishop Sheen tells us that we will have three surprises in
Heaven. The first surprise: We will be surprised to see that many people we expected to be in
Heaven are not there. St. John of the Cross gives the reason why they are not there: “At the evening
of our life, we shall be judged on how we have loved.” The second surprise: We will be surprised to
see that the people we never expected to be in Heaven are there. That is because God judges man’s
intentions and rewards them accordingly. The third surprise: We will be surprised to see that we are
in Heaven. Since our getting to Heaven is principally God’s work, we should be surprised that God
somehow “went out of His way” to save us, simply because we showed the good will and generosity
to cooperate with His grace. In today’s Gospel, Jesus answers the question, who will be saved, when
and how.
Something to keep in mind - Salvation is a past, present and future event. We were
saved when we were baptized as children or adults. We are being saved at present, when we
cooperate with God’s grace by loving others as Jesus did -- by sharing our blessings with the needy
and by being reconciled with God daily, asking His forgiveness for our sins. We will be eternally
saved when we hear the loving invitation from Jesus, the Judge at the moment of our death and on
the day of the Last Judgment, saying: “Good and faithful servant, you were faithful in little things,
enter into the joy of your Master.”