THE NARROW DOOR

 A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 13, 22-30)

Jesus went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us.’ He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!’ There you will weep and gnash your teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. And men will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

 Once Jesus asked the crowd: “Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!” (Lk 12, 51). Christ’s answer may shock us for we believe he is the one who, Isaiah tells us, is “a son given to us”, the Son of God and the Son of Man at the same time. This is our Christian faith. Isaiah goes on to tell us that “authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Is 9, 6).

FIRE ON EARTH

 A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke (Lk 12,49-53).

Jesus said to his disciples: “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 52 From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53 they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” The Word of the Lord.

 Today’s Gospel selection reminded me of a short dialogue I had with a very young girl many years ago. She asked me: “Is it true that God sends fire on the earth?” “Why do you ask me?”, I answered. “Because mother told me that God will send fire to burn me if I don’t obey my parents”. That was the way we were frightened into obeying, not out of love or truth, but out of fear of severe punishment. This is not God’s way of doing things! When Jesus and his group were refused hospitality by the Samaritans, James and John told Jesus: “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” (Lk 9, 54). Jesus rebuked them and they continued on their journey to Jerusalem.

With this in mind, I answered the young girl: “Yes, God sends fire on earth”. “But why, father?” she asked me with fear in her eyes. Smiling I told her: “Yes, God sends fire on earth, for us to get warm during cold winter days, for us to have light during dark nights, and for us to cook our meals, among other things.” “Oh, Father, that’s OK”, she told me with a nice bright smile on her face.