Weekly Bible Study - Isaiah 66:18-21 and Luke 13:22-30

25 August 2013
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Can narrow-mindedness be a good thing after all?

In today’s first reading Third Isaiah paints a colorful picture of God’s people journeying to their homeland. Nations of every language stream toward Jerusalem. Distant coast lands proclaim God’s glory. New followers come in many and diverse ways. It is a glorious image of a temple reborn as well as of a future “church” where all are welcome.

The returning exiles for whom this author writes are likely to have been rather narrow-minded about the kingdom of God. Their belief that they alone were chosen by God for God’s kingdom might have given them a sense of entitlement, placing them first in line to reap God’s benefits. And the first shall be first?

But this is not the author of Isaiah’s vision. How might his message resonate for them?  They might pose the same question posed to Jesus in today’s gospel: “Lord, will only a few people be saved?”

How did Jesus respond to such questions? He described a “narrow gate” that many will attempt but few will enter.

"Ask, Seek, Knock" Door; Solanus Casey Center

And as we come to the final judgment, none of us wants to hear from the Lord: “I do not know where you are from.” Similarly, as we stand at the door and knock we do not want to be the one unrecognized by the Lord even as we eat and drink with him in the Eucharistic banquet.

The gate is narrow and the few will enter: those whose faith is rooted in God; those whose prayer is constant and deep; those who are unshaken in the face of adversity; those who carry on their compassionate shoulders the burdens of others. Our salvation builds on our connection to Jesus, which becomes fuller and truer each day through our prayers, good works and our sacramental life.

How do we, each day, fit ourselves to enter more gracefully through the narrow gate that leads to eternal life?

The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, The Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.