WHO CAN BE SAVED?

 

Homily for the 21^st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Scriptural Texts: Isaiah 66:18-21, Hebrews 12:5-7.11-13, Luke 13:22-30

 

In Luke 9:51, Jesus began a journey to Jerusalem and it was not until the nineteenth chapter of the gospel according to Luke that he made it to Jerusalem (Luke 19:28). The long walk to Jerusalem became an opportunity for him to preach and teach the people he met on the way and those who journeyed with him. The teachings we find in the gospel reading of today took place on the course of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem. In that gospel passage, we read that as Jesus went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and journeying towards Jerusalem, someone walked up to him and asked him about the number of those who will be saved (Luke 12:22).

It is good to note that this question was not just prompted by curiosity. Underlying it is the quest to understand the nature and extent of Jesus’ ministry in both its political and theological aspects. In the political aspect, there was a common expectation that Messiah would come to conquer and reestablish the nation of Israel to the glory, prestige and power it had under King David. In that line, one aspect of the question that was asked Jesus was to understand the nature of the kingdom that Jesus was going to establish. If Jesus was not restoring Israel as a nation, then was His plan to only save a few? From a theological perspective, Luke 12 and the opening part of chapter 13 record a lot of conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders and many warnings by Jesus to everyone about being ready for the coming of the Son of Man who would reward the righteous and judge the unrighteous. This teaching of Jesus goes against the common notion that the Jewish people would surely be saved because they are descendants of Abraham.

In response, Jesus challenged the people to strive to enter by the narrow door; for many will seek to enter and will not be able (Luke 13:24). The narrow nature of the door has nothing to do with the number of those who will pass through it but with the effort we have to put in to go through the door. A narrow door requires a certain effort to get through it. The invitation to ‘strive’ suggests struggle and exertion. To get through a narrow door you need to be focused and attentive. You need a clear vision of where you are going and a certain commitment to get there. As such, what Jesus was saying is that those who wish to be his followers need all these qualities of commitment, clarity of vision, focus, and determination. No one can lay claim to entry into God’s kingdom merely on a superficial acquaintance with him (Luke 13:26-27) or based on ethnic origins.

While salvation is a gift, Jesus expects us to cherish it like a trophy and to strive towards it in the same way an athlete strives to complete a race. Since the road to the kingdom is narrow, we therefore need the discipline and determination of an athlete in pursuing entrance through the narrow door. Just as an athlete needs discipline in order to keep fit, so also do we need to be spiritually disciplined and fit in order to make it through the narrow door. The fact that people will come from east, west, north and south to occupy the table in the kingdom with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is a proof that many including non-Jews will be saved. This point is also mentioned in the first reading where the Lord says that he is coming to gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and shall see his glory (Isaiah 66:18).

The door may be narrow, but the Lord is going to pull through that door large numbers from every language and culture. There will be nothing narrow about the huge, diverse gathering that assembles beyond the door. Jesus does not intend to exclude anyone from salvation except those who choose to be lost. Let us therefore strive every day of our life to be part of those who will enter through the narrow door that leads to the fullness of life.