In our Gospel today from Luke, there is an extremely poignant question asked – “Lord, will only a few people be saved?”. The question shows a somewhat broader focus than what is perhaps productive for each of us spiritually – the more personally productive version would be – “Lord, will I be saved?”. This is not to say that we should not be concerned for others, but that we need to start at home, if there is to be much hope of our helping those around us. We cannot help others grow strong spiritually when we are so weak as to be ineffective. Our Lord speaks of a gate that we must each enter through, and that the way is narrow, it will only allow some to pass through. It does not allow those carrying harmful baggage to pass through it. Before we can each pass, we must shed our hatred, lusts, greed, resentments, envy, and indifference in order to become unencumbered by the weight and bulk of these sins. Then, and only then can we pass through that narrow gate.
To use the term from our first reading, we must each become “clean vessels” in order for us to have sufficiently grown spiritually to be able to pass through the gate to eternal life. The obvious question then, is how do we go about doing so? Our own will and drive will only take us so far in this, as we don’t always have the correct focus on where to direct our energies. We see things as human beings who are still encumbered by our fleshly body that we use for this existence, and all the limitations that come with it. The vision needed to truly see what needs to be addressed comes from the clarity of sight that exists only within a being of spirit. This is where our Lords guidance comes to us to allow us to then make the changes needed. Sometimes this comes in the form of His word that we hear each Sunday or read in the bible. Other times there may be an influence felt through prayer and contemplation, and always these things are nourished by the reception of the Sacraments. However, the heavy changes often come to us through something that we all too often hear we should not like – discipline. God’s discipline and admonition that He gives to those He loves. Over the years discipline has grown to be an ugly word in our society, and more is the pity. When instilled properly, it is a gift of the greatest love, and has an effectiveness that is unrivalled in what it can accomplish on a personal level.
When I think back on my life and ponder the people who have touched me the most deeply and profoundly, there is an unbroken pattern that emerges. Each of the people that came to mind were ones that I did not always particularly like in terms of either what they had to say, or how they engaged with me. However, it turned out they were also the people who cared enough about me to not let me take the easy path. Instead, they used their influence and energy to move me in a more difficult, but also more productive direction. It is just so with our Lord, He has often been the one that has challenged me, and moved me along a steeper path, and I suspect that when we think back, we have all probably shared some of these experiences. Our Lord is called Father for a very good reason, He is the one who cares enough about us as His children to bother to guide and discipline us when He knows it will do us the best. He does not take the easy path Himself; He cares too much about us to do so, but rather He guides us over the steep and rough terrain that builds our spirits and makes them strong through exercise and sometimes adversity. His concern is for our ability to be strong enough to pass through that narrow gate and be joined with Him in the eternal home prepared for us.
The Deacons Bench 