A Homily for the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, August 24, 2025
Isaiah 66:18-21; Psalm 117:1, 2; Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13; Luke 13:22-30
Audio Recording
Today’s Gospel gives us one of the most sobering sayings of Jesus: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” The disciples and the crowds had been deeply impressed with Jesus’ miracles and teachings, but also troubled. They wondered, “Will only a few people be saved?”
This question reveals an uneasiness we may feel too. Salvation sounds so beautiful, so desirable, and yet Jesus makes clear that it is not something we can take for granted. The road to life is real, but it is also demanding.
Our first reading from Isaiah assures us that God’s plan is to gather all nations to Himself. People from every corner of the earth will see His glory. God does not desire a small, exclusive group, but a vast multitude — men and women from every nation and tongue — rejoicing on His holy mountain.
Psalm 117 echoes that theme: “Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.” God’s mercy is steadfast, His fidelity enduring forever. He wants everyone to hear, to believe, and to be saved.
The second reading from Hebrews reminds us that God disciplines His children because He loves them. His corrections are not punishments meant to crush us, but the training of a loving Father preparing us to share in His holiness. Salvation requires our cooperation; it means being shaped, purified, and strengthened for the Kingdom.
But if God’s desire is so wide, why does Jesus speak of a narrow gate?
The narrow gate does not exclude—it frees us from the baggage of pride and sin so we can enter God’s Kingdom.
The narrowness does not mean stinginess. God is not trying to keep people out. The gate is narrow because it requires us to shed what does not belong in the Kingdom — our pride, our selfishness, our sins. The broad way of ego and self-indulgence cannot fit through that door.
Jesus is blunt: some will knock at the door, confident because they once heard Him preach or sat in His company, and He will say, “I do not know where you are from.” Familiarity is not enough. Simply being “around” Jesus is not the same as following Him. To enter the Kingdom, we must actually become His disciples, conformed to Him in heart and deed.
Familiarity with Jesus is not enough; only faithfulness makes us strong enough to enter through the narrow gate.
Notice also that Jesus says some will not be strong enough. That is an important detail. The Christian life requires strength — not physical strength, but the spiritual strength of humility, perseverance, and trust.
Where does that strength come from? From grace. God does not leave us weak. He offers us the sacraments, the Scriptures, the Spirit’s guidance, the community of the Church. But we must use these gifts. A Christian who does not pray, does not repent, does not forgive, does not serve, will find himself too weak to enter. The narrow gate requires us to lean on God’s strength, not our own.
Jesus also concludes with a reversal: “Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” In other words, outward appearances can be deceiving. Some who seem far from God may enter before us, because they responded with humility and repentance. Others who seemed close may be left out, because they relied only on appearances or titles instead of true discipleship.
This should sober us. We cannot rest comfortably on being Catholic by identity or habit alone. We must live our faith with sincerity and perseverance. The Eucharist we share is not just a privilege—it is strength for the road. It is meant to shape us into Christ, so that when the gate is before us, we are ready to enter.
So what do we do with this Gospel?
First, we take Jesus seriously. If His words never astonish or disturb us, we are probably not hearing Him rightly. Christianity is not meant to be comfortable. It is meant to be transforming.
Second, we recognize that salvation is gift, but a gift that requires our “yes.” God is infinitely generous, but He will not force us through the gate. We must let go of what weighs us down — grudges, addictions, pride, indifference—and allow His grace to refashion us.
Third, we find hope. The same Lord who warns us about the narrow gate also assures us: “It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.” He disciplines us because He loves us, and He never ceases to give His Spirit to those who ask. The narrow way is difficult, but it is not impossible, because Christ Himself walks with us.
Let me close with an image. Imagine a pilgrim traveling toward a great city. Along the way, she gathers souvenirs, trinkets, and heavy baggage. When she finally reaches the city gate, she finds it is very narrow — too narrow for all her baggage to pass through. The gatekeeper tells her: “You are welcome, but you must leave those things behind.”
Brothers and sisters, that pilgrim is each of us. The souvenirs are our pride, sins, and selfish attachments. The Kingdom awaits, but only the humble and faithful may pass. The good news is that Christ has already carried the heaviest load—our sins—upon His cross. If we walk with Him, we will be strong enough to enter.
So let us heed His words: Strive to enter through the narrow gate. Trust His grace, cooperate with His discipline, and walk with Him. Then we too will recline at table in the Kingdom of God, with saints from every nation, giving Him glory forever.