As Jesus journeys toward Jerusalem, someone asks him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” Rather than answering with numbers or certainty, Jesus shifts the focus from speculation to action: “Strive to enter through the narrow door.” In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us again in the parables that lip service is not enough. We must strive to enter by the narrow door, the way that forces us to lay aside all pretension and false pride.
The “narrow door” represents the challenging, disciplined path of true discipleship. It’s not enough to simply be near Jesus, to hear his words or even eat and drink in his presence. Jesus warns that many will claim familiarity with him but will find themselves outside when the door is shut. This startling image urges us to look inward and ask whether our lives genuinely reflect the values of the Gospel—humility, mercy, self-sacrifice, and love for the poor and forgotten.
To enter by the narrow door requires more than cultural or religious identity. It demands ongoing conversion of heart. It means letting go of ego, privilege, and the desire for recognition. The narrow door is walked by those who forgive when it’s hard, serve without reward, and follow Christ even when the path is unpopular or difficult.
But this Gospel also offers hope. Jesus speaks of people coming from east and west, north and south, to take their place at the feast in the kingdom of God. The door is narrow, but it is open to all. No one is excluded by background or history—only by unwillingness to live the Gospel fully.
In the end, the first may be last and the last first. God’s mercy is generous, but we are called to respond wholeheartedly. May we walk with humility, authenticity, and perseverance toward that narrow door that opens into eternal life.
Fr Stephen Berecz
