Today’s readings focus on faithfulness. Paul calls to us in our First reading (Ephesians 6:1-9) to be faithful in our calling: Children, obey your parents; parents do not provoke your children, but teach them the ways of God. The directives given to slaves and their masters hopefully sound strange to us. They might make more sense if we reword them into more modern terms. It might read something like this: “Employees, always give your employer your best efforts, not just when you are being watched. Don’t hang out in the break room for too long. Employers, treat your employees honestly and fairly; give them a just wage and do not take advantage of them.” Why? Because in God’s eyes we are all equal. The message is strong: God is present to each of us, and we are called to respond with faithfulness to God and one another in our walks of life.
The psalm (Psalm 145:10-14) praises God’s faithfulness in all that God is and does. We are invited to give thanks to God, to proclaim God’s goodness and faithfulness. God is ever present to and with us, lifting us up, always ready to raise us up out of our down times. How are we to be faithful to our God, as God is faithful to us? What is it in each of our day to day living that calls us to live as God’s image to one another?
In the gospel (Luke 13:22-30), the question, “Who will be saved?” prompts Jesus to respond that people will come from all corners of the earth. But he cautions, “For, behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” (In the passages surrounding this reading, Jesus continues to talk about God’s kingdom as one in process…the mustard seed growing; bread with leaven; mother hen gathering her chick). Today, He uses the image of a “narrow gate”, saying many will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough, and many others will be turned away when they knock on the door. In the context of today’s first reading, there is a keen sense that Jesus is “upping the ante.” Yet he doesn’t tell his followers what is necessary. He leaves them with more questions than answers. “What is the narrow gate and who will have the strength? What do I need to do to pass through safely? If it is not enough that we know you and follow your teachings, what else is required? Who are the last, who are the first, and where am I?” And then it dawns on them, “wait a minute, all these weeks and months you have been talking about a God of great mercy, compassion, love and forgiveness. We are good people. What could we possibly do that would incur this judgment and cause us to be “cast out” and denied salvation?
Perhaps Jesus is reminding us that we can never be complacent in our faith. We may have made a commitment to follow Jesus, but that only means that we are on “the way”. We can never say “I have arrived; I’m done,” not until we appear in judgement. The road we travel is the road less traveled. Going along with the masses will not enable us pass through the “narrow gate”. Merely following the rules of custom and culture will not lead to salvation.
In the United States, we will, next Tuesday, be having our national elections. As we go to the polls, how will each of us answer the call to be faithful citizens, building both our country and Building the City of God? Who/what are the choices that will bring each of us, and all of us, together for the common good, the good of God’s creation? How will we live into our faithfulness with our God? Let us pray that we may be faithful citizens, not only at the polls, but that we will work for the common good of all of God’s creation into the future.
May God Bless You and Grant You His Peace!