Homily For This Sunday - 24th August 2025

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today's readings present us with a profound paradox of our faith: God desires all people to be saved, yet the path to salvation requires discipline, effort, and perseverance. We hear both the expansive vision of God gathering all nations in Isaiah and Jesus' sobering words about the narrow gate in the Gospel.

In our first reading from Isaiah, we hear the Lord's magnificent promise: "I come to gather nations of every language; they shall come and see my glory." This is God's universal call to salvation—extending beyond Israel to embrace all peoples. The prophet envisions survivors being sent to distant lands and nations to proclaim God's glory, bringing people from all nations as an offering to the Lord. Some will even be taken "for priests and for Levites," showing how God's plan of salvation transcends all boundaries.

This universal vision is echoed in our Psalm response: "Go out to all the world and tell the Good News." God's steadfast love and faithfulness are not limited to one people but extend to all humanity.

Yet in our Gospel, Jesus seems to present a different perspective when asked, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" Rather than directly answering this question about numbers, Jesus redirects our attention to what truly matters: "Strive to enter through the narrow gate."

The word "strive" here is significant. In the original Greek, it's "agonizesthe"—from which we get our word "agonize." It suggests intense effort, struggle, and discipline. Jesus is telling us that entering God's kingdom isn't automatic or easy—it requires commitment and perseverance.

This theme of discipline is reinforced in our second reading from Hebrews: "Do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines." The author reminds us that discipline, though painful in the moment, "later brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it."

So how do we reconcile these seemingly contrasting messages? On one hand, God desires all people to be saved and gathers all nations. On the other hand, Jesus speaks of a narrow gate that many will not be strong enough to enter.

The key lies in understanding that God's universal invitation requires a personal response. The door is open to all, but we must choose to walk through it—and that journey requires effort.

Pope Benedict XVI explained this beautifully: "The 'narrow door' is not meant to restrict the number of people who are saved but to show that there is a relationship between human freedom and divine love. God offers salvation to all, but the human person must accept this gift through a serious commitment to the Gospel."

Consider the people in Jesus' parable who knock on the door saying, "Lord, open the door for us." They claim familiarity with Jesus: "We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets." But Jesus responds with those haunting words: "I do not know where you are from."

What does this mean? These people had proximity to Jesus but not relationship. They were near him physically but not spiritually. They heard his teachings but did not internalize them. They shared meals with him but did not nourish themselves on his words.

True discipleship goes beyond mere association or cultural Christianity. It's not enough to sit in church on Sunday if we don't allow God's word to transform our hearts and actions. It's not enough to know about Jesus if we don't know Jesus personally and allow that relationship to shape our lives.

St. Augustine put it this way: "It is not by being physically present but by loving that we draw near to God." Our salvation depends not on cultural proximity to Christianity but on our personal response to Christ's invitation to follow him.

The narrow gate isn't narrow because God is stingy with salvation. It's narrow because it requires something specific: the surrender of our will to God's will. It requires us to leave behind our selfishness, pride, and attachment to sin. These things simply cannot fit through the door to God's kingdom.

Jesus tells us that people "will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God." This echoes Isaiah's vision of all nations gathering to the Lord. The invitation is universal, but the response must be personal.

What does this mean for us today?

First, we must recognize that God desires all people to be saved. This should fill us with hope and inspire us to share our faith with others. The universal nature of God's call means that no one is beyond the reach of God's love.

Second, we must take seriously Jesus' call to "strive to enter through the narrow gate." This means embracing the discipline of discipleship—prayer, sacraments, service, and ongoing conversion. As our second reading reminds us, this discipline may be painful at times, but it produces "the peaceful fruit of righteousness."

Third, we must examine whether our relationship with Jesus is authentic or merely superficial. Do we truly know the Lord, or do we simply know about him? Are we allowing his teachings to transform our hearts and actions?

In our second reading, the author of Hebrews encourages us to "strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees" and to "make straight paths for your feet." This is a call to renewed commitment and effort in our spiritual journey.

As we prepare to receive the Eucharist today, let us remember that this sacred meal is not just about eating and drinking in Jesus' company. It's about receiving him into our very selves, allowing him to transform us from within. The Eucharist strengthens us for the journey through the narrow gate.

Brothers and sisters, God's invitation is universal, but our response must be personal. The gate is narrow, but it is open to all who sincerely seek to enter. Let us strive with all our hearts to follow Christ, not just in word but in deed, so that one day we may take our place at the table in God's kingdom.

Amen.