Meditation

Today's Gospel (cf. Lk 13:22-30) presents Jesus traveling through towns and villages, teaching, on his way to Jerusalem, where he knows he must die on the cross for our salvation. It is in this context that a person asks him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?" (v. 23). The question was being debated at that time—how many will be saved, how many will not—and there were different ways of interpreting Scripture on this matter, depending on the texts used. But Jesus reverses the question—which is more concerned with quantity, that is, "will only a few be saved?"—and instead places the answer on the level of responsibility, inviting us to make good use of the present time. He says, in fact: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able” (v. 24).

With these words, Jesus makes it clear that it's not a question of numbers; there's no quota in paradise! Rather, it's about crossing the right path right now, and this right path is for everyone, but it's narrow. That's the problem. Jesus doesn't want to deceive us by saying, "But don't worry, it's easy, there's a wide highway and at the end a large gate..." He doesn't tell us that: he speaks to us of the narrow gate. He tells us things as they are: the passage is narrow. In what sense? In the sense that to be saved, we must love God and our neighbor, and that's not easy! It's a "narrow gate" because it's demanding; love is always demanding, it requires commitment, even "effort"—that is, a resolute and persevering will to live according to the Gospel. Saint Paul calls it "the good fight of the faith" (1 Tim 6:12). It takes a daily effort, all day long, to love God and one's neighbor.

To explain this better, Jesus tells a parable. There is a master of the house, who represents the Lord. His house symbolizes eternal life, that is, salvation. And there, the image of the door reappears. Jesus says, “As soon as the master of the house gets up and closes the door, and you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us,’ he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from’” (v. 25). Then these people will try to make themselves known, reminding the master of the house: “I ate with you, I drank with you… I listened to your advice, your public teachings…” (cf. 26); “I was there when you gave that talk…”. But the Lord will repeat that he does not know them, and he will call them: “All you evildoers.” Therein lies the problem! The Lord will not recognize us by our titles—"But look, Lord, I belonged to this association, I was a friend of such and such a Bishop, of such and such a Cardinal, of such and such a priest…" No, titles don't matter, they don't matter. The Lord will recognize us only by a humble life, a good life, a life of faith that is expressed in good works.

And for us Christians, this means that we are called to establish true communion with Jesus, by praying, going to church, receiving the sacraments, and nourishing ourselves with his Word. This sustains us in faith, nourishes our hope, and rekindles charity. And so, with God's grace, we can and must dedicate our lives to the good of our brothers and sisters, fighting against all forms of evil and injustice.

May the Virgin Mary help us in this. She passed through the narrow gate that is Jesus. She welcomed him with all her heart and followed him every day of her life, even when she didn't understand, even when a sword pierced her soul. This is why we invoke her as the "Gate of Heaven": Mary, Gate of Heaven, a gate that has the exact form of Jesus: the gate to the heart of God, a demanding heart, but one open to us all.

POPE FRANCIS

ANGELUS

Saint Peter's Square

Sunday, August 25, 2019