Lord, Will Only a Few People Be Saved?

October 29, 2008

Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

By Melanie Rigney

Slaves, be obedient to your human masters with fear and trembling ... not only when being watched, as currying favor, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, willingly serving the Lord and not men, knowing that each will be requited from the Lord for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. (Ephesians 6:5-8)

As Jesus was making his way to Jerusalem, someone asked, “‘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.’" (Luke 13:23-24)

Piety

Lord, I thank You for the tools you have given me to enter through the narrow gate, and pledge to use them to the best of my ability during this life to spread the Good News.

Study

America, August 13, 2007

In some ways, Jesus would have made a terrific politician. Not only was he a personable, great leader who sincerely cared for his people, but he also was so skillful about not addressing some questions head-on.

When the Pharisees tried to trip him up on whether the census tax was lawful, he told them to repay to Caesar what was Caesar’s and to God what was God’s. When the Sadducees asked who at the resurrection would be the rightful husband of the woman who married seven brothers in succession, he said God is the God of the living, not the dead. Both answers are wonderfully clever responses, but do not exactly answer what was asked.

Then in today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is asked if only a few people will be saved. He talks about doors being locked against those who thought they knew the master of the house and about “wailing and grinding of teeth” and of people being cast out. The reading ends with the familiar “some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” But he never really answers the question, and maybe that’s because the answer is more complex than we’d like to think.

In an article last year on this reading, America offered a thoughtful challenge to us all:

Will only a few persons be saved? The answer to that question remains hidden with God. The two great attributes of God in the Bible are justice and mercy. (The reading) reminds us that entry into God’s kingdom is not automatic. Rather, it requires faith in God, firmness of purpose and sharpness of focus and appropriate actions and constant vigilance. While the invitation to God’s banquet is extended to all, we all have to act upon it. How many will be saved in the end is a decision that rests with God.

Perhaps by not directly answering the question, Christ unlike politicians of the twenty-first century has given us all the answer we need. Let’s resolve to concern ourselves less with whether we’ll get into the Kingdom and more with the work that is to be done while we’re here.

Action

Just for today, focus your prayer time on thanksgiving and praise. Ask for guidance in what God desires of you, and take even a seemingly small step toward doing what He desires. Let your prayers for supplication wait a day.