The Unauthorized Homily

By Bill Dunn

A commentary on the Scripture readings from the Sunday Lectionary

(Scripture readings for Sunday, August 26th: Isaiah 66:18-21; Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13; Luke 13:22-30)

A BIG MOUTH RAISES DISTURBING QUESTIONS

In this week’s gospel reading, some anonymous big mouth had to go and toss out one final question as Jesus passed by. He asked, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?”

What a can of worms this guy opened! Jesus stopped and gave a detailed answer. Oh man, did He give an answer. It was more like a blunt warning which should send chills up and down our spines.

Jesus told the man, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.”

We often resign ourselves to the idea that those who do not believe in God, nor care about God, nor try to please God, will be in a lot of trouble at the final judgment. But Jesus plainly said that even some people who ATTEMPT to enter the heavenly Kingdom will be unable to do so.

He used the analogy of a master of the house locking the door while people are outside knocking and pleading to be let in. The people outside desperately try to remind the master that they are old buddies, good friends. “We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets,” they yell.

But the master replies to them, “I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!”

Jesus made it pretty clear that mere acquaintance with Him and His teachings won’t do any good. Only those who truly embrace Him and live by His words will enter.

Jesus also made it clear that the opportunity to be saved will not be available indefinitely. He said this about the master: “After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door…”, which indicates that there will be a specific moment in time when it will be too late.

It’s so tempting to view a serious religious commitment as something we can always do later. After all, life is so hectic right now. Work is really stressful; the kids are driving us nuts; the calendar is jam-packed with obligations. There’s no time to think about religious stuff right now. Sure, we’ll make time for it one of these days, as soon as things calm down.

With that kind of approach, “one of these days” will never come. But the day when it is too late WILL come. It must be understood that the window of opportunity will not always remain open. There will come a time when the door will be locked and it won’t do any good to shout out, “Lord, Lord! Don’t you remember me? I went to church, remember? At Christmas, about two years ago, I was there. Remember? I sat in the last pew. I know I sort of dozed off for a while, but it was really me! Aw, c’mon, please let me in!”

Some risks are simply not worth taking. If you are planning on having a serious conversation with God “one of these days,” I strongly suggest that today be the day.

Go into your room, close the door and take fifteen minutes to open up your heart to God. Praise Him for being so awesome and loving—don’t forget, He created you for a very specific and wonderful purpose. Repent for all the selfish and hurtful things you’ve done over the years. Thank Him for sending His Son to die on the cross for your sins. Ask the Lord Jesus to wash away all your sins and to come into your heart. Finally, ask Him to fill you with the power of the Holy Spirit, so that you’ll be able to grow in the faith. Then make a commitment to read and reflect on a small portion of God’s holy Word each day. Also, make sure you gather with fellow believers to worship the Lord on at least a weekly basis.

If you do this, not only will your life be changed for the better right now, but most importantly, at some point in the future you won’t be caught outside a locked door, frantically pounding and shouting, “Lord! Let me in!”

One final point about this week’s gospel reading. In the final line Jesus said, “For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

He was talking about people who are smug about their status as God’s favorite ones. Far too many people think because of the family they’re born into, or the particular church they attend, or the specific prayers they recite, that God is much more pleased with them compared to those “other” people who don’t do it quite right.

God judges by the heart. The sincerity, honesty, and humility of a person’s faith counts for a lot more than the particular church tradition he or she was born into.

Heaven is going to surprise us. We’re going to be surprised by who IS there, and even more surprised by who is NOT there. It’s not very comforting and I wish that anonymous big mouth had never raised the issue, but that is what Jesus said. And that is the main message of this week’s gospel.

©2007