The Teachings of Jesus in Luke: Throw Open the Door

Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then in reply he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrown out. Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” ~ Luke 13:22-29


 It is for us to see the Kingdom of God as always coming, always pressing in on the present,  always big with possibility, and always inviting immediate actions. ~ Walter Rauschenbusch

Imagine for a moment that this passage isn't about who is getting into heaven, and who isn't. Remember, that for Jesus, "The Kingdom of God" is not code for heaven someday.

 It is the here and the now. It is the life we are meant to be living.

 It is experienced by participating in it now and for many, the door to that experience is narrow because it is already blocked by so much: our stuff, our prejudices, our fears, our allegiances to other kingdoms in this world (including the one in which we live), our desire for power or prestige.

 It is a door that is narrow because we aren't able to envision something else. We can't see past the narrow doors we've created - the doors that keep out a generous kingdom that wants to break wide open, and instead limit it to our own understandings and beliefs.

 Jesus' critiques often were directed a the leaders of the Jewish religion whom he saw as not keeping God's intention for God's people with their limited understanding of faith. Jesus was not critiquing the Jewish faith itself - Jesus was a practicing Jew. Instead, he was critiquing leaders of faith who did not proclaim God's wide, generous kingdom and who used their power to silence the marginalized among them.

 It's a critique that leaders today can learn from as well: who is it that is  viewed as "first" in this world? Who is it that is "last?" Leaders who try keep out or persecute the disenfranchised, or who use their power as a weapon are missing the point just as much as the leaders Jesus spoke of 2000 years ago.

 It's a critique we can learn from as well when we view our sacred cows as ways to separate ourselves from others.

 God's kingdom is bigger with possibility than we can imagine. And when narrow doors keep us out, we can generally believe they are of our own making.

 I have a pretty good idea what my narrow doors tend to be. What might yours be?
Prayer: Help me to throw the narrow door of my creation wide open so that I can fully be part of your wonderful, bountiful kingdom. Amen



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