“After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
‘Lord, open the door for us.’”

luke 13:25

Luke 13:22-30

Reflection

A person asks Jesus if many people will be saved. He replies that they should strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many will try to enter but be unable. People will ask why they aren’t allowed in when they ate and drank in the Lord’s company; they will be cast out of the kingdom of God. Some who are last shall be first, and others who are first shall be last.

If the only thing we have going for us is that we ‘ate and drank’ in the Lord’s company, but failed to do anything else in our lives that indicated we would follow Jesus, then it makes sense that we would not enter the kingdom of God. If we only listen to Jesus but fail to act upon his words and live a Christian life, we do not automatically make it to heaven.

The Lord wants us to be active participants in our relationship with him. We cannot be mere bystanders, witnessing the Lord’s presence in the world but not taking part in it. How can you live a full, participatory life with Christ?

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Saint of the Day

St. Bartholomew (Nathanael): died 1st century AD

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him.” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” John 1:47-49