Isa 66:18-21/ Psa 117:1,2/Heb 12:5-7,11-13/Luke 13:22-30.
Reflection:
(By Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu,SVD(Catholic Bishop of Ho,Ghana)
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The lead question in the Gospel Reading is “Sir, will there be only a few saved?”
The person who asked the question is not identified in the story thus making it an anonymous interrogation.
This is a question which could have been asked by any Jew based on their religious education.
The interrogation is similar to speculative Jewish apocalyptic concerns found in some writings of this character. It is based on the belief that not all Jews will be saved.
This is contrary to some other Jewish teachings that hold that all Israelites will be saved.
The answer of Jesus goes beyond the speculative character of the question.
He does not offer a direct, simple and straightforward answer to the question.
That would have been a simplistic way of approaching the issue at stake.
We need to keep in mind the gradual shift of Israel from the concept of communal salvation to individual moral responsibility.
The strong belief that all Israelites would be saved which was reflected in the feast of Yom Kipur by the sacrifice of atonement gradually gave way to individual
responsibility.
This brought the people to the realization that the individual is personally responsible for his/her sins and must seek personal forgiveness from God.
This background, coupled with the idea that there may not be room for all in heaven, sets the background for the question addressed to Jesus.
Although the question addressed to Jesus was speculative in character, his response was within the context of personal ethical challenge.
This is evident in his shift from giving a general answer to a direct address to those who experienced his earthly ministry and expect to be part of the banquet in the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus offered a situation in which all who encountered him during his public ministry thought they were qualified to be at the feast.
His answer indicated that it was not enough to claim to be in the company of Jesus during his public ministry.
It is essential that one make the effort to enter through the narrow door.
The answer to the question suggested the likelihood that only a few will enter the kingdom of heaven.
The closing of the door of the banquet hall suggested that there was a time limit to when people could enter the hall.
This should not be seen in terms of early arrivals as against late comers since that would give the impression that space is limited in the kingdom of God.
The closing of the door must be seen in the scenario where all who are eligible have entered the kingdom and those left out are those who do not merit to be there.
This explanation is further made clear by the response of the master of the house who said: “I do not know where you come from. Away from me, all you wicked men!”
The answer to their request contains also the reason for their non-admittance to the kingdom of God.
Simply put, it can be said that wicked people do not have a place in the kingdom of God.
Those who do the will of God or put into practice the precepts taught by Jesus cannot be considered wicked people.
They are the ones who strived to be perfect as their heavenly Father
They are the ones who purified themselves in the blood of the lamb by defending the faith with their own lives.
The Lord does not leave us on our own to search for the right path to enter into the kingdom.
In the Second Reading, the author of the Letter to the Hebrews points out how the Lord corrects those he loves.
When we do what is wrong in the sight of God, he does not allow us to go astray.
His love for us as sons makes him seek our salvation.
He punishes us, making suffering part of our training.
This is exemplified in the First Reading as God decided to send the remnant of Israel to Tarshish, Put, Lud, Moshech, Rosh, Tubal, and Javan, to the distant islands that have never heard of or seen his glory.
With this punishment, Israel was to realise her faults and seek forgiveness from God.
We should also see some moments of hardship and suffering as God’s way of disciplining us.
This calls for discernment in order to know if our hardships are imposed by human persons for selfish ends or God’s way of leading us back to the right path.
When suffering is caused by human persons, we should fight against it.
If it is God correcting us, we should make amends so that we can be saved and find a place at the banquet of the kingdom of God.Amen
