“Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” (Luke 13:23-24)

The major theme for this 21^st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C focuses on one of our existential questions: How can we enter “heaven?” The existential questions are those that we ask: “Where do I come from?” “Why am I here?” “Where am I going?” “How can I be really happy?”….etc.

When we are really happy, we think and feel as if we are in heaven. Heaven can be conceived as (1) the roof of the world, (2) the abode of God, and (3) our true home and final destination. Although God is omnipresent, He manifests Himself in a special manner in the light and grandeur of the firmament of heaven. Heaven also is (4) the abode of the angels; for they are constantly with God and see His face. With God in heaven are likewise (5) the souls of the just, the holy saints that Christ conducted them back to heavenly hometown. Thus, the term heaven has come to designate (6) our eternal happiness in the next life.

Heaven is where our true happiness will never end. Jesus wants us to “strive” to enter it, which means, to enter heaven we need to make sacrifices and pay a price. Jesus also teaches us today that we need to enter it through the “narrow gate,” which many theologians have given different meanings and explanations in terms of faith, hope, love, prayer, and service, based on the examples and life of Jesus Christ.   

God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, Dynamic Christian disciples are those who (1) BELIEVE, (2) GROW, (3) SERVE, (4) LOVE and (5) LEAD others to Jesus. Today’s topic invites us to enter heaven through the narrow door of our Christian faith, to imitate Christ and do the works of mercy, to love God above all and to love our neighbors as ourselves to accomplish God’s will in our lives to glorify God.  

What is the “narrow gate” of sacrificial love in action that allows us to enter heaven?

Wishing everyone a blessed week in the Lord.