26 October 2016 - the narrow gate scandal

[ Today's Readings ]

Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.

The main thing isn't to be strong enough. The main thing is to enter while the master of the house still has the door open and unlocked. After it's locked, good luck. The people who truly know the master enter during, as it were, business hours. Coming late to the party shows that we haven't been living in relationship with the master. It reveals that we, in fact, do not know him. But this doesn't need to be us. We have the invitation in hand. Let us enter while the door is open. 

It is true that the door is also narrow. We must divest ourselves of our pride and attachments to sin in order to enter. It isn't enough just to be in proximity to Jesus if we don't let him change us. But he is the one that invites us. He is the one who gives us the strength to change. There is an abundance of grace to bring many through the door to the banquet. The key is to desire to receive it.

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.

The grace that changes us and makes us small and humble enough to enter should first mark all of our relationships. We should honor our parents, love our children, be obedient to those in authority over us, and love and care for those who are under our own authority "knowing that both they and you have a Master in heaven and that with him there is no partiality." All of our relationships here on earth give us the choice between pride and humility, between tyranny and service, and between selfishness and love. Let us be small and humble in all of our relationships. Jesus gives us the strength to do so. If we utilize that strength we can be sure that we will fit through the narrow gate.

The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.