Welcome to Brothers and Sisters, the weekly meetup for prayer* and community at Daily Kos. We put an asterisk on pray* to acknowledge that not everyone uses conventional religious language, but may want to share joys and concerns, or simply take solace in a meditative atmosphere. Anyone who comes in the spirit of mutual respect, warmth and healing is welcome.
Luke 13:22-30 was heard in Catholic parishes this weekend. As you'll see below the fold, it's not exactly the most comforting reading there is.
Jesus passed through towns and villages,
teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.
Someone asked him,
“Lord, will only a few people be saved?”
He answered them,
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.
After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
‘Lord, open the door for us.’
He will say to you in reply,
‘I do not know where you are from.
And you will say,
‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’
Then he will say to you,
‘I do not know where you are from.
Depart from me, all you evildoers!’
And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth
when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
and all the prophets in the kingdom of God
and you yourselves cast out.
And people will come from the east and the west
and from the north and the south
and will recline at table in the kingdom of God.
For behold, some are last who will be first,
and some are first who will be last.”
"But wait a minute, you might think. "What about John 3:16 and the idea that just believing in Jesus will get you to Heaven?"
Well, as the priest said at the Mass I attended this morning, this reading reminds us that it's not enough to simply believe; we must act.
It also has another important message for all of us - Catholics, other Christians, other believers, agnostics, and nonbelievers alike: It is not enough to simply be content with being good - good at your job, good at taking care of your family, good at being involved in your community, etc.
You have to be the best you can be.
That doesn't mean being the best there is; life isn't about comparing yourself to others and marking yourself a success or failure based on where others stand in comparison to you.
Rather, in all things - your career, your family life, your community involvements, etc. - we must strive to be the best versions of ourselves.
None of us are perfect at this, but we owe it to ourselves to make the attempt - to strive to enter that narrow gate.
Or as Mother Teresa once said:
God doesn't require us to succeed, he only requires that you try.