21st Sunday of Ordinary Time (Cycle C)

August 26, 2001

by Deacon Lawrence A. St. Onge

There is a popular Dixieland song that I’m sure most of you are familiar with that goes:

O, when the saints,

I sincerely hope that my horrendous singing was not overly offensive to you and apologize if it was. I have always liked that song. Perhaps it is the fact that it is a happy and joyful song, or perhaps, it is because of the connection with my name is – St. Onge. Whatever the case, it could very well be the theme song for this Sunday. The prophet Isaiah in the 1^st reading seems to be striking up the band and the chorus for a rousing rendition of the song, as it were, when we heard the words: "I come to gather nations of every language; they shall come and see my glory."

There is absolutely no doubt that God wants the largest possible number of people to be saved. There is no housing shortage in heaven. Yes, we are all being called to be saints in heaven, but at the same time we have to be cautious and not be presumptuous about our call. In today’s gospel the question is posed to Jesus: "Lord, are they few in number who are to be saved?" – obviously asked by someone who presumptuously already decided he was saved and curiously wondered about the rest of humanity. Jesus did not respond with a direct "Yes" or "No" answer. Instead, he responds by saying in effect, "The door to the kingdom is unlocked. Keep in mind it is not wide, but it freely swings open on well-oiled hinges. Those willing to exert themselves will walk right in. No one at any time needs to stand outside with their nose pressed against the glass door wistfully looking in."

So instead of a "Yes" or "No" answer, Jesus says in effect, "It all depends." He says, "Try to come through the narrow door. Many, I tell you, will try to enter and be unable." In very plain and blunt language Jesus makes it very clear that no one has a lock on Heaven. Although we are all called to be saints who come marchin’ in, some will not be able to get through the narrow door. Some will be rejected. This is a tough truth of which we need to be reminded of from time to time, lest we presume to think that salvation is an automatic, guaranteed condition which comes with our baptism and for which we have to do absolutely nothing. To the contrary, entry into the Kingdom of Heaven is the result and the reward of struggle. It is the payoff for a lifetime of hard labor. Everyone has to pay his or her own dues. No one receives the bonus without the onus. Even in the spiritual life there is no such thing as a free lunch. We in fact belong to what someone once described as the "Church of the Narrow Door."

Jesus said, "Try and come in through the narrow door." We have to underscore the word, "Try." Jesus implies that we need to keep on striving in order to enter the Kingdom. We always run a certain danger in our lives, which is, that it is easy to think that once we have committed ourselves to Jesus Christ, then we have reached the end of the road, and we can sit back and relax, because we have achieved our goal. The reality and truth of the matter is, however, that there is no such finality in the Christian way of life. A person must always be going forward, or they are necessarily going backward; there is no such thing as sitting still.

To be called a Christian, to bear the name Christian, is in itself not enough to guarantee our entrance into that number of saints who go marchin’ in. We heard the words in today’s gospel: "Sir, open for us,…We ate and drank in your company. You taught in our streets." But, recall that the response was: "I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Away from me you evildoers." Jesus may not recognize everyone who bears the name "Christian," but he will most certainly recognize immediately those who bear the stamp of "Christian living and life."

Indeed, God wants everyone to be saved, but we must be aware that there are some serious conditions that must be met first. We hear these conditions set forth in the gospels. Jesus says, "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it." "Be merciful just as your Father is merciful." "Forgive and you will be forgiven." "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." "Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more." And finally, "This is my commandment: Love one another as I have loved you."

The one final caution we have in today’s gospel is that even if we get through the narrow door, we need to be aware that some people who were last in this life, will be first in the next, and some who were first in this life will be last in the next.

There is a story told of a very prominent woman, who had been used to every luxury and to the respect of all. She died, and when she arrived in heaven, an angel was sent to escort her to her house. As they went along, they passed one beautiful mansion after another. As they came to each one the woman thought that it might be hers, because each was more beautiful than the last. After awhile they passed through the main streets and came to the outskirts where the houses were much smaller; and then, on the very fringe, they came to a house which was little more than a hut. "Well, here we are," said the angel, "here is your house." "What," said the woman, "that! I cannot live in that!" "I’m sorry," said the angel, "we did the best we could, but that is all we could build for you with the materials you sent up."

It is said that we spend our time here on earth building up our treasure in heaven. Let us, therefore, spend our time wisely, and spend it storing up that which really counts.

Today’s gospel, then, is both a comfort and a challenge to us. It is a comfort knowing that God certainly wants all of us to be in that number when the saints go marchin’ in. But it is also a challenge to us in knowing that we have to stay in step and follow our leader, Jesus, so we can eventually be in that number when the saints go marchin’ in.