Jesus sounds stern in today’s gospel. We are not used to the compassionate one talking this way, except to some hypocritical religious leaders. They really raised his ire, especially when they set out to trap him. But today he sounds harsh to someone who seems to be a follower, who calls Jesus “Lord” and asks, “Lord will only a few be saved?”
What makes a person ask a question like that? And more — what would make one of Jesus’ followers ask such a question? Was it someone feeling the way we sometimes feel about our world? There is so much terribly wrong about what we see and hear in the world: terrorism and war, violence and shock on TV, family members who go off the deep end, religious persecution, civil strife ripping countries apart, etc. So much is out of focus. Where is God in all this and what is our future, if we are believers? We shake our heads and wonder if the world isn’t “going to hell in a handbasket?” So, we might understand the question that is put to Jesus by a person who is upset with the world and local conditions: “Lord, will only a few people be saved?”
But maybe the person asking the question is asking because he/she feels like they are safely part of the “in group.” The passage begins today by saying that Jesus was teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. The person putting the question to Jesus seems drawn to him as a religious teacher. In the pagan world Jesus lived, surrounded by Romans, a devout person could think that they, and not the pagans, were on the right path, entitled to a well-deserved place in the kingdom of God. After all, they took time in a busy schedule to come out to hear Jesus. In addition, the person reveals some devotion by calling Jesus, “Lord.” Since that title is a post-resurrection one, Luke might be voicing a concern of his own Christian community.
So, it seems that an “insider” is asking about who will get in and who will find the doors locked on them. The way the question is asked you get the impression the questioner feels he/she will have access. That’s scary, because Jesus once said, “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of God” (Mt.7:21).
Jesus’ response should make us “regulars,” we church folk, a bit uncomfortable. He would always appreciate a compassionate disciple; but his response doesn’t indicate he is speaking to such a disciple. Most likely it was someone who felt part of Jesus’ inner circle; feeling they had made it, but others would not.
You just know that Jesus is going to shake the person back on their heels. He has a habit of telling religious people not to get smug; in fact, the so-called “devout and religious” were the ones who rejected Jesus. He was most critical of the judgmental religious leaders who were the very ones to condemn him in Jerusalem — where he is determined to go… and where he asks us to follow.
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” The “narrow gate” is an image for Jesus’ way of living and the way of self-sacrifice he asks of us. Jesus is in a hurry to get to Jerusalem and he speaks quite abruptly about those who will be shut out. Even for those who can say, “We ate and drank in your company” — those who could claim to be in Jesus’ group.
Jesus is suggesting that more than membership is required in following him. It’s about choosing the “narrow gate.” Do we act on what we believe? Implied in Jesus’ response are some questions put to us: “You believe God forgave your sins — so do you forgive others?” “You believe God reached out to you and brought you in — do you reach out beyond your close-knit group to welcome outsiders?” “You believe God nourishes you at this table — do you imitate God and feed the hungry?”
Our reading from Isaiah are verses close to the ending of the book. The people had just returned from their long exile. These closing verses speak a hopeful vision of God’s coming. One might expect the book to end in harsh warnings to the people not to go astray again, lest they be punished with another exile. Instead, after the chosen people’s years of suffering. God promises to come to “gather the nations of every language.” God has a plan to save, not just a few, but all people.
The reading hearkens to today’s gospel and the question put to Jesus, “Lord will only a few people be saved?” Well, not according to God’s last words in Isaiah. God announces that messengers are to be sent out to all the nations, as Jesus’ disciples were sent to preach to the whole world.
Then what is this “glory” which God says people will witness? They had returned to a devastated Jerusalem after their long exile and had gone through a period of reconstruction. What had seemed impossible, God had helped them accomplish: Jerusalem was rebuilt. How did that happen? They had to conclude that it could only have happened with God’s help. They had seen the glory of God, it was a very concrete reality to behold — Jerusalem was raised from the ashes. The restored city would be a sign of God’s power on their behalf. This was the good news the messengers were to carry to the nations; good news that would draw all people to the God of Israel.
These messengers are chosen from those who have seen God’s glory and then are sent to carry the message to those who “had never heard of my fame, or even seen my glory.” Those who speak of God to a neighbor, or someone who has not heard of God, are most effective if they speak out of their personal faith and experience of God. Pope Paul VI said in his famous encyclical, “Evangelii Nuntiandi” that people listen more to witnesses than to teachers.
Pope Paul was right: the most convincing messengers of our faith are those who speak from their personal experience of God — they are viable witnesses. Perhaps, they were sick and God healed them, or gave them strength and endurance. Their marriage was in a rut and a Marriage Encounter weekend revived it. They had lost their way and were too consumed by their jobs and then they refocused on family. They retired from a long career and were without direction and someone got them to teach English to immigrants. They were single and lonely and they met someone who shares their goals and faith.
In these and in so many other ways, people have seen God’s glory and are now sent to proclaim “to the nations.”