21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Bullet Points (Luke 13:22-30)

• You bet, no one is really sure who will enter the Kingdom of God and have eternal life. However, Jesus gives us some instructions in today’s gospel.. He declares that the door to eternal life is narrow. So, the one who strives to enter through the narrow gate will get into heaven. Concretely, ‘to enter through the narrow door’ is to live out the Gospel values.

• The narrow gate leads to Jesus, while the wide gate opens the way to Satan. “Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.” (Mt 7:13-14

• Because the door to eternal life is narrow, surprises can be expected. “Some who are last will be first and some who are first shall be last.” Those who think that they have a privileged entry pass into the kingdom because they have some acquaintance with Jesus. After all, they go to mass every day, because they put much into the collection box or donate to charity, or because they are members of some religious organizations, MAY BE DISAPPOINTED.

• Christ’s warning is clear, and those who keep his warning are SAFE. “For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” Those who do not walk with Jesus and pass the narrow gate will be disappointed.