Cycle C 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is 66:18-21; Hb 12:5-7,11-13; Lk 13:22-30

In ancient times, towns were surrounded by walls and had one or more gates to which one reached through a narrow wooden passage. The great palace of the Chinese emperors, popularly called, “The Forbidden City” is also characterized by narrow gates. When there was any sign of
danger, the narrow gates were easy to close, and easy to be protected. Whoever crossed the narrow gates entered the Forbidden City and was in safety. At the time of Jesus, the Jewish towns too were fortified in this manner.
 
The narrow gate in the parable of Jesus symbolizes three things. First of all, it is an entry into the safety of the city of God. These gates of this city are open to all. The first reading from the Prophet Isaiah proclaims the entry of different nations into that city of safety. People come from the ends of the then known world. The Lord says,

“I am coming to gather the nations of every language.
They will come to witness my glory.
They will bring their brothers,
On horses, in chariots, in litters,
On mules, on dromedaries,
From all the nations to my holy mountain in Jerusalem.”
 
Secondly, entry into that city can never be automatic. It is the result and reward of a struggle. “Keep on striving to enter,” he said. It was inscribed on the tomb of an Alpine guide who had died on the mountainside, “He died climbing.” For the Christian, life is ever an upward and an onward way.
 
 Human nature is always to conquer the heights. There were hundreds of mountaineers that had sighed at the foot of the Mount Everest, then struggled to reach   the peak. Thus Hillary and Tensing found themselves standing at the peak of Mount Everest. The struggle to reach the heights did not stop there. Humanity took the next step to the space, from there to the moon and to other planets. Now he dreams of reaching the heights of other galaxies. Likewise, there is no finality in Christian life. A man must ever be going forward.

Thirdly, the narrow door is symbolic of the hardships of life. It is symbolic of   accepting poverty, being of a charitable heart, being patient and forgiving others. If we want to enter into the city of safety and protection, we cannot go with a bulky load on our back. The load of pride and self centeredness that we carry with us should be shed in order to easily enter through the narrow gate.

Pope John Paul II, while speaking to the young people of Jamaica addressed them, “Young Jamaicans, Reject the easy road; the road of self indulgence, crime, cynicism and escape from responsibility. Enter by the narrow gate. Choose the road that leads to eternal life and happiness with God.”

If we choose the wide gate of self indulgence and pleasures of the moment we will never be happy. The second reading today, from the Letter to Hebrews reminds us that we are God’s children. The only way to achieve real happiness and fulfilment in life is to choose the narrow gate that leads to life. There are many men who made their life worth remembering. Gautama Buddha left the comforts of the palace and chose the way of hardships to find happiness. St Francis of Assisi abandoned his ambitions and took up the way of prayer and fasting to find fulfilment in life. Mother Theresa left the security of the convent life and went to the streets of Calcutta to find God in the suffering. They chose the narrow gate to enter into God’s kingdom.

Before entering the Promised Land Moses reminded the people, “I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Chose life, then that you and your descendants may live by loving the Lord.”(Deut 30:19-20)

One of the greatest wonders that the people experience in God’s kingdom is: “The last will be first, and the first will be the last.” Those who are very prominent in this world may have to be very humble in the next; those whom no one notices here may be princes of the world to come. There is the story of a woman who had been used to every luxury. She died, and when she arrived in heaven an angel was sent to conduct her to her house. They passed many a lovely mansion. They passed the city gates and came to the outskirts where there were only little huts. On the very fringe they came to a little hut. “That is your house, said the angel. “What! I cannot live in it”, said the woman. The angel replied, “I am sorry. That is all we could build for you with the materials you sent up.”

The standards of heaven are not the standards of earth. Earth’s first will often be last, and its last will often be first.

One of the greatest examples for this was John Mary Vianny. He was the last in his class. In French and Latin he was the last student. He failed in Theology studies. So he was asked to leave the seminary. After that he was taught Theology privately and was ordained in 1815. Three years later he was appointed to the parish of Ars, a parish, where practically no one went to church. In a few years people began to come on pilgrimage to Ars. He became the most sought after spiritual advisor. It is an example of last being first. John Mary Vianney was last but now he is the patron of parish priests.
 
What has caused the miracle? The gracious touch of the Lord. This miracle will happen to anyone who tries to enter by the narrow gate; who disregards the standards of the world and set his goal on high.

Satish