(Isaiah 66:18-21; Psalm 117; Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13; Luke 13:22-30)

One of the things I love about our Church here in North-West Hampshire is the diversity. In my ministry I get to meet people from all over the world. I see this as the fruits of the works of the original disciples who obeyed the words of Jesus and went out to the whole world and proclaimed the Good News. Six hundred years before Jesus, the prophet Isaiah foretold this to the Jewish people, and we have this as our first reading today. The Chosen People would be joined by people from all over the world; who would speak different languages and have different customs, some of them would look different and some of them would become priests. All of this is in the message we hear from Isaiah today.

This is supported by the message in the Letter to the Hebrews also used today, where we are reminded that we are sons and daughters of God, He created us, He loves us and when we stray from His path, He disciplines us. The word discipline comes from the same root as disciple, it is all about learning. Sometimes learning is painful, and this is highlighted in the passage used today for our second reading, but nonetheless it is necessary. I can recall being disciplined by my dad for being cheeky to my Grandad. My dad’s ways of discipline were from another era, left me in pain both physically and emotionally, and guaranteed that I was never cheeky to my grandad again. Now I am a grandad and trying to teach my grandchildren involves far more explanations than I was ever given. The emphasis from me to them is trying to keep them safe, which at the moment they accept.

The letter also encourages us to have the resolve to stay faithful to God despite any setbacks which we may endure in this world, so that God can get the great pleasure of keeping his promise to us in the next world.  Elsewhere in Scripture St Paul’s letter to the Romans says in chapter 5 ‘we rejoice in our sufferings’, now I don’t know anyone who rejoices in suffering, so why does St Paul ask us to rejoice in our sufferings? – It is because he knows that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character and character produces hope.  As Christians we hope in the Lord, and we hope to be saved.

In our Gospel today someone asks Jesus if only a few will be saved, Jesus doesn’t deal with the arithmetic, there is no specific restriction in numbers, however there are other restrictions.  Did you hear them in the Gospel?  The door will be narrow and it will eventually be locked.  Those who enter are those who the Master of the House recognises.  This message was a direct message to the Jews at the time, the Jews were the chosen ones, the first people to enter into a relationship with God.  Jesus was telling them – look if you don’t maintain our relationship then there are others who may want to form a new relationship.  This promise of God was opened up to us the Gentiles.  As Catholics we can sometimes be heard saying we are the first Christians, the original ones, we didn’t veer away from the Church Jesus founded through St Peter. Is it possible, if we don’t maintain our relationship with God, that this message is aimed directly at us too?  Remember the first shall be last and the last shall be first.

We hear Jesus encouraging us to use the narrow door. At first glance, this may appear to contradict the first reading where we have a broad range of people coming to the Holy Mountain Jersualem. The narrow door is about the choices we can make. As Christians we need to make our choices based on our Faith. The world today offers an abundance of choice, often making our choices more difficult. For example, I remember when the TV had only three channels, it was easy to decide which programme to watch and growing up, we as a family all watched the same programme. Nowadays, there are hundreds of channels, families seldom watch TV together, some programmes are streamed via the internet, and it is possible for several people to be in the same house and all watching different things in different parts of that house.

Another example would be if we had some money available to spend and had the choice between spending it on our self; putting ourselves first; or on helping someone else; putting someone else first; what would we choose to do? There are loads of choices to make to be self-indulgent, instant gratification in our throw away world, but there are also a multitude of people who need help, sometimes we can be overwhelmed by the sheer numbers who need help. But as Mother Teresa [St Teresa of Calcutta]  said, “if you can’t feed a hundred people then feed just one”.[1]

Jesus is telling us to narrow our choices, choose things in life which are life giving, which help to enrich one’s life or the lives of those we encounter. He also tells us the choices we make will determine whether we enter into His home or are cast aside to eternal punishment. Jesus is warning those who think they have a place at His table that nothing is guaranteed; we need to keep being faithful, keep serving, keep loving.

Today’s readings talk about spreading God’s Word Globally, there is also a warning in there for all of us, many will try to enter but few will succeed.  For those who can’t see the presence of God among them then there will be plenty of others willing to take their place.

How have we shared God’s Word this last week?

Is there anything we need to do differently this coming week?

What choices do we need to make to allow us to enter by the narrow gate?

Jesus is alerting us all, that if we fail to take our place in His Kingdom then there will be others invited. The choice is up to us.

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church[2]

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 543-546: all called to enter the Kingdom
CCC 774-776: the Church as universal sacrament of salvation
CCC 2825-2827: do the Father’s will to enter the Kingdom
CCC 853, 1036, 1344, 1889, 2656: the narrow way

Please keep in your prayers this week

  • Those who are sick, housebound or in hospital, that the care they receive matches all of their needs.
  • All those on holiday or who are travelling, that they have a safe trip and re-charge their batteries.
  • Those waiting for the results of medical tests, examinations or scans, that the results can pinpoint the treatment they may need; or alleviate their fears.
  • Those around us who have recently received their exam results, may they be aware of which direction God is guiding them towards.
  • Our Pastoral Area as we continue to take the first steps towards moving from Maintenance to Mission.
  • Peace in the world, and a de-escalation of the situations where war has already commenced or appears to be inevitable.
  • Fr Stephen as he prepares to come to the pastoral area and for the parishioners and relationships he leaves behind
  • For the last session of the Alpha programme which takes place this week.
  • That a way to feed the starving in Gaza can be found that is fair and does not pose a danger to those who are starving or the aid workers.

Deacon Tony

23rd August 2025.

[1] Mother Teresa Quotes About Helping Others | A-Z Quotes

[2] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments