not be able. When once the master of the house has gone inside and locked the door, you will stand outside. Then you will knock at the
door, calling, ‘Lord, open to us!’ But he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught
in our streets!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know where you come from. Away from me, all you workers of evil.’ You will weep and grind your teeth, when
you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves left outside. Others will sit at table in the kingdom of God,
people coming from east and west, from north and south. Some who are among the last, will be first; and some who are among the first, will be last!”
Reflection
“Strive” is the key word in today’s gospel. It is
not a simple entry through an easy door but requires
maximum effort to do so. It can be compared to an athlete
who does all kinds of strenuous preparations to win the contest.
Thus those who would be saved depends upon how many would
strive to squeeze and wiggle, making enormous efforts
to enter through the narrow door. Many might prefer the
wide and easy door that do not require much effort. They might
define it as wise use of energy. Many others might wish to
enter through the narrow gate. But their resolve might not be
strong. Their persistence might waver. It’s like the followers of
Jesus during the early years of His public ministry. Many who
followed Him left Him because His teachings were too difficult
for them to comprehend. His teaching on the Holy Eucharist
(John 6:66) made many of them leave. Later in the early church,
many who were members of the church left the church because
of persecution from the Jews and Romans, and because of the
compulsion to give up the faith of their non-Christian family
members. Yet in all of these, the persistent will be vindicated. The
hardships that they endured in entering the narrow gate will be
amply rewarded.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2021