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."

Reflection

The audience that Jesus spoke to had a very clear idea as to how they would be entering the Kingdom of God. They would follow all the rigid rules and regulations of the temple, do everything that was required, and that would gain them salvation. And what Jesus is saying, no, no, that's not the way it is, you've missed the point.

The point is that I want you to allow me to enter into you, and we will together work for the kingdom of God. And your participation in that work is your salvation. So the idea that when they show up and God doesn't know who they are is a perfect example of the fact that the way in which we are saved is not by rules and regulations, but by an intimate relationship with the divine.

Closing Prayer

Father, you remind us over and over again that what we are here for is not to grow and change out of our own strength and power, but to surrender to the beauty of your intimacy with each of us. We're not here to earn salvation. We're here to joyfully receive it. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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