Word to the Wise
Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - Wednesday in the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
[Ephesians 6:1-9 and Luke 13:22-30]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
' The fate of Jerusalem plays a big part in this passage of the Gospel of Luke. Much of the gospel is organized around Jesus' journey to Jerusalem where he would meet his fate at the hands of those who rejected his gospel! At the time the gospel was written, Jerusalem had met ITS fate at the hands of the Romans! Those who did not share that fate were sometimes inclined to look down on the unbelievers who had met such a fate. Some were even claiming some personal connection with Jesus based on having been at the same party with him or having seen him teaching in the town square! Jesus uses the image of the homeowner who cannot recognize the people knocking on his door at night. The criterion for being recognized is conversion of life, not some previous social or political or geographic connection - things that would count for a lot in social life of Jesus' time. Some of this is expressed in the question, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" - as if salvation is an elite event. The criterion has not changed. It is faith and repentance that are the basis of salvation. There is no membership committee (despite the illusions of some overzealous Christians). There is only the Lord and the person who asks to be saved. If we want to be recognized when we knock, we'd better do our homework first. One thing is for sure, we are not the gatekeepers. AMEN
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