The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us of the charity and respect that we are called to practice in our relationships as we assess the depth of our commitment to living as disciples of Christ.
The reading from the Letter to the Ephesians provides instructions for relations between children, parents and slaves, masters.
* [5:21–6:9] Cf. notes on Col 3:18–4:1 and 1 Pt 2:18–3:7 for a similar listing of household duties where the inferior is admonished first (wives, Eph 5:22; children, Eph 6:1; slaves, Eph 6:5), then the superior (husbands, Eph 5:25; fathers, Eph 6:4; masters, Eph 6:9). Paul varies this pattern by an emphasis on mutuality (see Eph 5:20); use of Old Testament material about father and mother in Eph 6:2; the judgment to come for slave-owners (you have a Master in heaven, Eph 6:9); and above all the initial principle of subordination to one another under Christ, thus effectively undermining exclusive claims to domination by one party. Into the section on wives and husbands an elaborate teaching on Christ and the church has been woven (Eph 5:22–33). (Ephesians, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 145 praises the Greatness and the Goodness of God.
* [Psalm 145] A hymn in acrostic form; every verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Acrostic poems usually do not develop ideas but consist rather of loosely connected statements. The singer invites all to praise God (Ps 145:1–3, 21). The “works of God” make God present and invite human praise (Ps 145:4–7); they climax in a confession (Ps 145:8–9). God’s mighty acts show forth divine kingship (Ps 145:10–20), a major theme in the literature of early Judaism and in Christianity. (Psalms, PSALM 145 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus connects the Narrow Door to Salvation and Rejection.
* [13:22–30] These sayings of Jesus follow in Luke upon the parables of the kingdom (Lk 13:18–21) and stress that great effort is required for entrance into the kingdom (Lk 13:24) and that there is an urgency to accept the present opportunity to enter because the narrow door will not remain open indefinitely (Lk 13:25). Lying behind the sayings is the rejection of Jesus and his message by his Jewish contemporaries (Lk 13:26) whose places at table in the kingdom will be taken by Gentiles from the four corners of the world (Lk 13:29). Those called last (the Gentiles) will precede those to whom the invitation to enter was first extended (the Jews). See also Lk 14:15–24. (Luke, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)
Larry Gillick, S.J. (October 31, 2018) comments on the celebration of those who divested, who took off pretendingness and lived the Treat of the simple holy life.
Jesus’ reply to the one asking about being saved is wondering if he/she is carrying enough accreditation and self-affirming actions. Jesus images a “narrow Gate” through which only the costumeless, the stripped can pass through. Those who obtained their identity from what they did, would be unknown by the Master. They are pictured by Jesus as knocking on the door like Trick-or Treaters and the Master would say twice, that He did not know where they were from.
These costumed pretenders would not be receiving the treats of heaven, but the results of tricking themselves by dressing up in false identities and not receiving their reality and truth from their Creator and Savior. What the Master is saying to them is that He does not know where they are from, because they have refused to accept that they are from God and are on their journey of returning back through the narrow gate of believing their origin and destiny.
Please enjoy the life-long process of de-costuming and living our sainthood. (Gillick, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “To enter the narrow door,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"'Wide is the door, and broad the way that brings down many to destruction.' What are we to understand by its broadness? ...A stubborn mind will not bow to the yoke of the law [the commandments of God]. This life is cursed and relaxed in all carelessness. Thrusting from it the divine law and completely unmindful of the sacred commandments, wealth, vices, scorn, pride and the empty imagination of earthly pride spring from it. Those who would enter in by the narrow door must withdraw from all these things, be with Christ and keep the festival with him."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 99) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 13:22-30 comments that if we want to come to knowledge of the truth, we can’t keep Jesus at the periphery of our lives. We need a life-giving relationship with him that goes deeper than simply hearing his teachings or attending Mass. He wants us to know him, and he wants to know us.
And your part? Spend time with him. Invite him in, not just to the parts of your life that anyone could know from the outside, but into every corner. Take the risk of telling him all the things you might be afraid to say. Dare to bring your hurts and your failings into his light. Tell him you’re willing to listen to whatever he has to say to you. In other words, give him permission to see where you are from. And invite him to be Lord over it all.
Jesus is longing for a deeper relationship with you. So talk to him—about everything! Just imagine the look of delight on his face when he opens the door to the Father’s house and sees you!
“Jesus, I don’t want to have a superficial relationship with you. I give you access to every part of my life.” (Meditation on Luke 13:22-30, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that the passage from Ephesians extends the household instructions of the chapter to children and parents, master and slave, to emphasize mutual responsibilities. Slavery was an accepted institution in the 1st Century and the Church rationalized slavery and capital punishment in the 19th and 20th Century. Friar Jude reminds us of the focus of Luke on the Gentile Christians underlining that heritage or shallow commitment are not keys to enter the narrow door.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, in a 2017 homily based on this Scripture passage, reminds us of the foundational requirements of Christian living.
Is there anything happening in America today that would make you think we believe we should “love our enemies”? If Christians do not decide to finally be like Jesus, then let’s just give up on this whole Christian thing. It doesn’t mean anything! If it’s just going to church on Sunday, then we have to stop pretending we’re following Jesus, because we’re just like everybody else—we are into power and money and deceit and war. If we do not preach the gospel, if we do not begin to live the gospel now, then let’s stop pretending that we care about Jesus or about following Jesus.
We are in a very scary position in the United States, and the whole world sees it. We are called to engage in a great mobilization, recognition, conversion, and transformation, because now the issues are too big, too real, and too right in front of us every day.
We cannot be silent any longer. Do not expect me to be silent, and I won’t expect you to be silent, either. It’s going to take courage. It’s going take each of us making little decisions in our little worlds to love, not just our neighbors, but even to pray for our enemies, to pray for our president, to pray for our country. If we can’t do these little things, what does it all mean? (Rohr, n.d.)
We ask the Spirit to develop our deeper practice of love and compassion for all our neighbours especially those who challenge us and hold differing opinions and have different heritage.
References
Ephesians, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 30, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/6
Gillick, L. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved October 30, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Archive/2018/103118.html
Luke, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 30, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/13?
Meditation on Luke 13:22-30. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 30, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/10/30/1115653/
Psalms, PSALM 145 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 30, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/145?10
Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Risk of Living the Gospel. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 30, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-risk-of-living-the-gospel/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Do Not Risk Being Shut Out. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 30, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=oct30
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