21st Sunday of Ordinary Time
The opening verse of today’s gospel reminds us of where we are with Jesus in this part of Luke’s gospel: “making his way to Jerusalem.”
Considering all the harsh and demanding things we’ve been hearing these past few Sundays, it’s not hard for us to imagine why someone along with Jesus on the journey to Jerusalem asks, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” We may ask, “Lord, will anyone be saved?” It seems as though Jesus has been teaching a kind of discipleship that is so demanding as to be discouraging, so radical as to be lonely, so self-sacrificing as to be impossible. And this is exactly the point: faithful discipleship is truly demanding, radical, self-sacrificing. Remember, we’re on the road to Jerusalem. We’re journeying with Jesus to death. That is part of what the paschal mystery is all about. These gospels make it so clear.
Luke seems absolutely unrelenting in his message. . .he doesn’t let up. . .discipleship has a cost! Discipleship takes us to death. But this is only part of the mystery.
Someone asks a question that gives Jesus the opportunity to adjust the disciples’ compass for the journey. In fact, the sharpness of Jesus’ answer seems to be directed toward those who might presume admission because, after all, “you taught in our streets” and “we ate and drank in your company.”
Jesus has called us to be disciples. True disciples are to be more than admirers of Jesus Christ. They are to be more than people who show up for church from time to time. Disciples are those men and women who practice their faith every minute. They are those whose every decision takes into account the teaching of Jesus.
When asked, “Will only a few be saved?” Jesus responds by saying those who will be saved are only those who act in such a way as to reveal their heart’s commitment to Christ. Salvation demands more than a casual interest in Jesus. Salvation demands absolute commitment. We must be strong in the practice of our faith if we are to make it in the narrow door.
Our problem is that we live in a casual world. There are not too many hard and fast rules. We have many more excuses than we have rules for not coming to church, for not having a better relationship with Christ.
The Letter to the Hebrews speaks of discipline – a word that generally has a bad connotation in our society. Parents who actually provide discipline for their children are often seen as unfair, or mean. “Let the kids be themselves,” say many people. Unfortunately, without discipline with a purpose, they never discover themselves. They only learn excess and disrespect.
We all have demands put upon us by, our employers, our spouses, our civil law our children and their coaches, teachers, our families, and we meet those demands without question. Now, if that is good enough for them, why is not good enough for our loving God, who allowed his Son to die for our sins?
This is the call to faith my brothers and sisters. Everything is second to God’s call. Not even a spouse or children can come before God. Not a job or a career, not a physical pleasure be it sleep or a vacation can come before God.
To put God first means taking a stand for justice and suffering the consequences. It means entering the fray of moral debates and suffering the ridicule. Living with Jesus Christ is our goal and – everything else must be second.
Jesus said many will attempt but not be strong enough. He said some who seem first will be last. This is tough and uncompromising. But “Hebrews” says if we let God discipline us, we will achieve the goal!
Where is God in your life? Is He first? If not, it’s not too late to rearrange our priorities.
Is 66:18-21
Heb 12:5-7, 11-13
Lk 13:22-30