The Narrow Gate: A Call to Authentic Discipleship (Luke 13:22-30)
Jesus went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. And someone said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?"
And he said to them, "Strive to enter by the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the householder has risen and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us.' He will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.'
Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.'
There you will weep and gnash your teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And people will come from east and west, from north and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God. And indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."
(Luke 13:22-30)
The Wrong Question, The Right Answer
In today's Gospel, someone poses what seems like a reasonable question to Jesus: "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" It's the kind of question that might occupy our minds during quiet moments—a statistical inquiry about salvation that feels both urgent and practical.
But Jesus doesn't answer the question directly. Instead, He redirects the conversation entirely, shifting from speculation about others to a personal challenge: "Strive to enter by the narrow gate."
This redirection reveals something profound about how Jesus approaches our anxieties. Rather than feeding our curiosity about who's "in" or "out," He calls us to focus on our own spiritual journey. The question isn't how many will be saved, but whether we ourselves are walking the path of authentic discipleship.
The Challenge of the Narrow Gate
The image of the narrow gate is both beautiful and unsettling. In Jesus' time, cities had both wide gates for commerce and narrow gates for security. The narrow gate required intention, effort, and often individual passage rather than following the crowd.
What makes the gate narrow? It's not that God's love is limited, but that genuine discipleship requires:
- Intentionality: We must choose to seek God actively, not passively drift through spiritual life
- Humility: Pride keeps us from admitting our need for grace and transformation
- Perseverance: The spiritual life demands ongoing commitment, not just momentary enthusiasm
- Authenticity: Superficial religious practice isn't enough; God desires the heart
The Danger of False Familiarity
Perhaps the most striking part of today's Gospel is Jesus' response to those who claim relationship with Him: "We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets." These people had proximity to Jesus, but not intimacy. They were physically present but spiritually absent.
This challenges us to examine our own relationship with Christ. Do we: - Attend Mass but remain unchanged? - Know about Jesus but not truly know Him? - Perform religious duties without genuine love? - Assume our cultural or family faith is sufficient?
Proximity is not discipleship. Being around sacred things doesn't automatically make us holy.
Hope in the Great Reversal
The Gospel ends with a promise that should give us pause: "Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last." This isn't meant to discourage but to expand our understanding of God's kingdom.
Those we might expect to be "first"—the religious elite, the culturally faithful, the socially respectable—may find themselves surprised. Meanwhile, those society overlooks—the humble, the broken, the seeking—may discover unexpected welcome at God's table.
This reversal should inspire both humility and hope. None of us can assume our place in God's kingdom based on external markers. Yet none of us should despair, thinking we're too far from God's grace.
Practical Steps for Today
How do we respond to Jesus' call to "strive to enter by the narrow gate"?
1. Examine Your Heart - Ask yourself: What is my true motivation for faith? - Am I seeking God, or just the benefits of religious life? - Where do I need deeper conversion?
2. Choose Authenticity Over Appearance - Focus on genuine prayer rather than impressive religious performance - Seek to serve others without recognition - Practice honesty in confession and spiritual direction
3. Embrace the Difficult Path - Don't avoid the hard teachings of Jesus - Choose forgiveness when revenge feels justified - Practice generosity when self-interest calls
4. Stay Humble About Your Spiritual State - Remember that today's faithful person could be tomorrow's prodigal - Extend grace to those who seem far from God - Never stop seeking deeper relationship with Christ
The Invitation Remains Open
Today's Gospel isn't meant to create anxiety but urgency—not fear but focus. The narrow gate remains open, and Jesus continues to call us toward it. The door hasn't closed; the invitation hasn't expired.
But it does require a response. Not tomorrow, not when life settles down, not when we've figured everything out. Today. Now. In this moment, Jesus asks: Will you strive to enter by the narrow gate?
The path is challenging but not impossible. The gate is narrow but not locked. And on the other side waits not just salvation, but the joy of sitting at table in the kingdom of God—a feast prepared for all who truly seek Him.
May we have the courage to leave the wide path and choose the narrow gate, trusting that Christ Himself is both the way and the destination.
"Enter by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." - Matthew 7:13-14