Surprises for all people

The Gospel of Luke in the texts from the RomanCatholic lectionary today describes how Jesus deals with the question of the number of people who will be saved. Father Larry Gillick SJ reminds us that this Gospel is written in the theme of a journey. Jesus is moving toward Jerusalem and the final presentation of His Love. The journey of those who believe and trust in God is a life of surprises. Father Larry notes that humility and trust in God offer the disciple the foundation for dealing with the surprises as Jesus would. Friar Jude Winkler notes that the text from the Book of the prophet Isaiah describes a surprising change in the theology of Israel after the Babylonian exile. The concept that the One God exists for all the peoples of the earth is perhaps a surprising revelation for a people chosen by Yahweh. The mission of this choice is not to direct themselves inward but to go to all the nations and to be open to the blessing of God on those once considered unclean who may be called to be Levites and serve in priestly roles. The Letter to Hebrews helps us understand that to prepare ourselves for the changes required as we work through the surprises of our journey we will need to be open to the discipline which God uses to prepare His children to bring the fruit of living in relationship with God to others. The fruit of righteousness described in this may come to us, as Friar Jude comments, through the mystery of suffering. How many will be saved? The knowledge we have about the answer to that question is that we may be surprised. The caution in Jesus answer is that we need to avoid presumption that those who claim to know Him are numbered in the saved. Those who live as His disciples will seek the patience, discipline and trust to be His message to all through the surprises of life.