Jesus was asked, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?”( Luke 13:23), as he was on his way to Jerusalem. The person who asked Jesus must have wondered if all people who believe in Jesus would be saved. Given Jesus’ response (Luke 13:24-30), not all will be saved.
Some pseudo-Christians say that all we need to be
saved is to accept Jesus as our “personal” savior and believe. The Gospel
Reading of the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C, Luke 13:22-30,
makes it clear that simply believing in Jesus is not sufficient to be saved –
though it is a necessary condition.
In response to the question on whether all will be
saved (Luke 12:23), right off the bat, Jesus said:
Strive
to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough (Luke 13:24).
With these words, Jesus made it clear that only
those who are strong enough to enter the Kingdom of God through its narrow
door, will be saved. The “narrow door” is
a symbolic metaphor for challenges to endure. In other words, Jesus reminded
that the way to salvation – the path to enter the Kingdom – is rather
difficult. To make it all the way, it demands the strengths.
Then, Jesus said that it is not just to make it
through the difficult path to be saved but also to enter through the “narrow
door” before it is permanently locked (Luke 13:25). Those who fail to make it to
enter through the “narrow door” on time will be condemned as they will be cut
off from Christ – even though they claim their association with him (Luke
13:26-28).
It is not just to make it all the way through the
difficult path to the narrow door but to make it before the door is closed by
Christ.
Perhaps, salvation can be better understood in juxtaposition to a marathon.
Not all runners who crossed the start line of a
marathon can make it all the way to cross the finish line. Furthermore, they
must cross the finish line before the marathon organizer closes the course and
the finish gate. For example, the time limit to complete the Chicago Marathon
is 6 hours and 30 minutes. Even though you make it through its 26.20-mile
course, you cannot officially cross the finish line to be recognized as a finisher
and receive a medal, if you spend more than 6 hours and 30 minutes. And Jesus’
teaching on salvation by making it through the narrow door before he closes it
(Luke 13:24-28) is just like finishing a marathon before its course and finish
gate are closed by the organizer.
Just as a marathon race draws competitive runners
from many countries, so does the salvation into the Kingdom of God. For this,
Jesus describes the cosmopolitan nature of those who are saved – those who make
it through the narrow door before its closing, and Jesus hosts dinner to reward
the “finishers” of the “salvation marathon” to reward them for their efforts of
hard work and commitment in faith (Luke 13:29). Furthermore, Jesus said:
For
behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be
last (Luke 13:30).
As a former marathoner myself, I see this statement
of Jesus as an important marathon advice: Start slow but strategically increase
your pace toward the finish. Some runners who dash out of the start line are
likely to run out of stamina in the middle of the course, while those who were
behind them are passing them. But what Jesus really meant by the statement is
the importance of humility.
Just as undisciplined marathon runners are tempted
to sprint off the start line and risk themselves of dropping out for running
out of energy, those who lack humility are likely to “show off” in the first
place in the world but will be humbled down in the Kingdom. And the necessity
of humility for salvation is reiterated in the Gospel Reading of the 22nd
Sunday (Luke 14:1,7-14).
It is not “first come, first served”, in the Kingdom,
though it may be a norm in the world. But Jesus also warned that we cannot be “too
slow” to make it through the narrow door of the Kingdom (Luke 13:25). So, what
is important here is, in addition to the strength (Luke 13:24) is the
discipline, as reflected in the Second Reading (Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13), which
calls us to endure trials as Children of God. With the discipline, we can
overcome a temptation to “show off” and remain humble to keep our pace strategically
on the journey. Just as completing a marathon successfully requires the disciplined
commitment, including the training, our path of salvation to make it through
the narrow door before its closing demands not only the strengths but also the
disciplined commitment. So, it is written:
All
discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the
peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it. So strengthen
your drooping hands and your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet,
that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed
(Hebrews 12:11-13).
Those who make it to the Kingdom through its narrow
door before its closing are those who have both the strengths and the discipline
in their commitment on the “salvation marathon”. And, the peaceful and joyful
fruit of the journey (i.e. Hebrew 12:11) are reflected in “the post-marathon
celebration dinner” in the Kingdom, brining “successful runners” not just from
Israel but from all other nations, hosted by Christ the King, as reflected in
the First Reading (Isaiah 66:18-21), also in Jesus’ words in Luke 13:29:
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.
Just imagine what it is like to have made it to the grand
“post-marathon” dinner hosted by Christ, in his Kingdom. Picture yourself in
this “international” reward dinner party upon successful completion of the “salvific
marathon”.
Yes, grace is free. But salvation is not free. We
must commit ourselves to the “marathon” to the Kingdom and make it through its
narrow door just in time before the closing by Christ. For this, we need both
the strength and the discipline. And we receive these through the Holy Spirit (2
Timothy 1:7).
By virtue of the Sacrament of Baptism, we received
the eligibility to enter the “salvific marathon”, which is actually the exodus
journey from this world to the Kingdom. By receiving the Sacrament of
Confirmation, we actually run this “salvific marathon”. Through the Holy Spirit
the power (Acts 1:8), we are strengthened and disciplined (2 Timothy 1:7) to
make it all the way through the narrow door to the Kingdom.
Though this “salvific marathon” journey is quite
challenging, causing pains and suffering, tempting to drop out, just as in the
case of the Exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land of Milk and Honey, God
Himself may go ahead of us to lead the way (i.e. Exodus 13:21) and God may also
send an angel to guard our journey (i.e. Exodus 23:20) because He rather prefers
all of us to be saved – though it may not be the case. And, just as a marathon
course is equipped with aid stations where runners can receive replenishments
of water, electrolytes, and light food, it is Jesus himself offers his body and
blood as the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist for our sustenance through the “salvation
marathon”.
Are you on this marathon to be saved in the Kingdom?
Have you received the Holy Spirit for the strengths and the discipline? Are you
with Christ, who is running ahead to guide you through and gives you the
sustenance through his body and blood? And how are you running? Are you keeping
your pace with the discipline?
Picture yourself with Paul, who completed this
salvation marathon and entered the Kingdom through its narrow door about 2,000
years ago, in light of these words of his:
For
I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is
at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just
judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have
longed for his appearance (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
We shall join Paul and all other Saints with Christ
at the post-marathon dinner party in the Kingdom!
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