THE GATE TO SALVATION: NARROW BUT ALWAYS OPEN.

TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. YEAR C.
August 26, 2007.
(First Reading: Isaiah 66:18-21) (Second Reading: Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13)
(Gospel Reading: Luke 13:22-30)

THE GATE TO SALVATION:
NARROW BUT ALWAYS OPEN.

The gospel of this Sunday speaks about who can reach salvation.

The gospel uses the symbolism of describing the one who is saved as someone entering through a narrow gate into God's kingdom where God and those who have already entered are reclining at table participating in the feast of the kingdom.

The symbolism: "reclining at table in the kingdom" (Luke 13:29) is used to emphasize the way of life in the kingdom. "To recline at table" is a symbol of unity (unity between human beings and God and between human beings themselves), the symbol for those who live in harmony, peace and mutual understanding where all can "recline at table".

The symbolism: "Strive to enter through the narrow gate" (Luke 12:24), points out to the tireless effort which is needed to live in unity, peace and harmony in order to be able to enter into the kingdom.

It is indeed extremely difficult for us to enter through this narrow gate for, as we can see, our world is alarmingly lacking in unity. Instead of unity, the opposite is true in our world. Our world is plagued with divisions, wars, destruction, aggression, dispossession.

Who, then, can be saved?: The ones who are "strong enough" (Luke 12:24) to live a life of unity, harmony, mutual understanding, and peace with all their fellow human beings.

Jesus wants us to know that the gate to salvation is always open for all, in fact "many will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough" (Luke 12:24).

Why is it that many will not be able to enter? Because many pursue their own well being at the expenses of that of their fellow human beings, thus establish profound divisions within the human race. The attraction of worldly riches and power - dearly encouraged by our society - moves people to acquire and accumulate material possessions by dispossessing and oppressing others.

This life of division becomes the final aim and goal for many who, overtly or subtly, profess unconditional allegiance to worldly riches and power. And, so it happens that they, in fact, may become the "first"(1) of the world. Referring to them the Lord Jesus says: "Behold... some are first who will be last" (Luke 12:30). They might be strong according to worldly standards, "but will not be strong enough" to enter through the narrow gate of salvation.

To be "strong enough" as to be able to enter the narrow gate requires a way of life in which:
a) we must live as children of God in the community of human beings; and
b) we must live in a way as to make our life on earth the beginning of our life in the kingdom.

a) Living as Children of God means nothing more and nothing less than living as what we truly are, living in accordance with our own nature, living as people who have one Father, as people who share the life of God. This unity of life(2) is fully realized only in the community of human beings where there is peace and harmony and mutual respect for one another without exception.

b) We begin to live the life of the kingdom here on earth whenever we begin to rid ourselves of division, wars, exploitation, oppression, injustice, that is to say, whenever we strive at becoming well-rounded, complete human beings.

We can begin to enter through the "narrow gate" every day of our life, not just at "the end" of our life.
We work on our salvation every day and every time we live in a way that promotes unity, peace, mutual understanding, mutual respect, and harmony among human beings.

People from all walks of life can do so. For instance, it has began to "enter through the narrow gate" the 7-year-old girl who every day walks two miles to bring a jug of fresh water for her minor siblings to have breakfast; or the owner of a powerful corporation who pays all his workers according to their human needs; or the leaders of a powerful nation who stop their aggression against other nations.

To those who promote unity and peace among human beings, the Lord will say: "You are the ones who truly ate and drank in my company; you are the ones who truly listened to what I taught in the streets" (Luke 12:26).

Today we all can listen to the Lord's advice: "Strive to enter through the narrow gate", for the gate to salvation is narrow, but it is always open.
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Footnotes:
(1) The "first of the world" are not only those who reach the "summit" of riches and power, but also those who support them, and those who by their "misfortune" (merciless competition) are eliminated from the race toward the riches and power in spite of their wholehearted efforts at dispossessing and exploiting their fellow human beings.
(2) Living in unity requires discipline: The discipline that comes from our own nature, the nature of being children of God. This is the discipline the Letter to the Hebrews refers to as the discipline that comes from God living in each one of us. This discipline trains us in the life of unity, this discipline "brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it" (Luke 12:11).