Narrow Gate

HOMILY NOTES

FR. TERRY RYAN, CSP

LUKE 13: 22-30

AUGUST 25, 2019

The question Jesus is asked, “Are few people to be saved?” is the question that “good church” people tend to ask.  They are obeying all the rules, doing as they are told by higher ups, and figure they are among the small “elite” surrounded by fallen away, non-attending, wrong life style people, and casual believers.  The questioner wants to be assured that all their faithful hard work is going to get them “saved.”  

Jesus sees that these are good people, who have one fatal flaw that would ruin any party Jesus gave.  They would be trying to keep people out who don’t measure up as they see it.  Only the right people should go to the feast.  So Jesus plays them a bit.  That is, he takes their fault and lets them go with it to an absurd conclusion.  Say what?  He tells them to go through the narrow gate that few are strong enough to enter.  This appeals to the spiritual pride of these people who love a challenge to do the tough thing for God. 

Each large house, mansion, where big feasts might be held has a back gate or door.  It is hard to get through as the path is not well maintained, has prickly bushes over hanging branches and yucky bugs ready to bite.  Servants might use it from time to time.  The gate or door is rusty and hard to open and is often locked.  But these people take up the challenge and off they go.  

Now the party can begin.  People come from everywhere for the feast.  No questions asked.  Unconditional acceptance.  Just show up.  This is God’s hospitality in the kingdom.  These people come in the wide open front gate and doors.  The “elite” would think these the last people who should get in, if at all.  Meanwhile, the elite are banging on the back gate.  Now Jesus will not keep them out.  He is disciplining them tongue in cheek style.  Eventually, they will come around the front and will get into the feast, dismayed at the crowd.  But they who thought themselves first will be the last to enter, after the feast is well under way and beyond their power to limit who enters.  For those who think they are on the outside of acceptance, God’s love is wide open and welcoming.  For those who think they are insiders, God is the disciplinarian, to challenge their faults, to bring out the best in them.  All at the feast, in the end, are needed and wanted.