October 30, 2024

Luke 13:22-30

In this passage Jesus says that many will try to enter the Kingdom of God as through a narrow door, but will not be able to. Then later people will stand outside the locked door asking to be let in, but the master of the house will be saying he does not know them. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  This scene certainly plays on our fear of missing out, and worse, on the last day, the judgment day. 

What is the narrow door through which it is not easy to enter? The last verse gives us a clue.  “Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”  Some who are considered inconsequential, lowly people who simply go about their business caring for others at home or work are thought to be “last” in this worldly existence, yet their humble service makes them first in heaven.  Some who are considered “first” as important, leading citizens, but who may have a mean streak or neglect their families – these hidden sins may make them last in heaven. 

This does not mean at all that wealth is automatically disqualifying, but rather look to the inner qualities of the heart that the beatitudes lift up: blessed are the meek, humble, poor, and peacemakers.  The reason the narrow door is hard to enter is that it is hard to remain in the state of openness and humility, meekness, and poverty, upholding peace and justice.  The human mind wants to find comfort in building our castles and enclaves, in building ourselves up and taking pride in our accomplishments or imagined exploits.  Apathy towards others’ pain is too easy; maintaining an open, empathetic heart is hard.

In our contemplative practice, we return again and again to simply being present with God. Open heart, lowly heart, and walking with the poor and hurting.  We do not enter the Kingdom of God by striving to accumulate spiritual experiences for ourselves in a certain preconceived way that we have read about – although sometimes that is an intermediary step on the path for some people. Let it go and just be in God’s presence with open heart, knowing that we do not know, and be with the unknowing.