When we see the number of those who have not yet received the Good News of the Gospel, or those who do not believe in God the Father, we are right to be concerned and ask the Lord the same question as someone in the crowd asked him in today’s gospels, ‘‘Lord, will only a few people be saved?’’ In other words: who will be saved? Jesus’ response is clear and very suggestive. In fact, according to Him, it is not enough to proclaim or profess our faith in Him to be saved. Because we believe, we give alms, we attend Mass daily, or pray at home, we might get the impression that salvation is automatic.

However, instructed by the Master, we are called to strive in order to enter His Kingdom, through the narrow door. My dear sisters and brothers, Jesus teaches us to focus on our own hearts, instead of judging others. Actually, those who think they have already the rights to this Kingdom risk finding themselves excluded, while outsiders, those we might judge as far from God’s Kingdom, may be included. Only God knows the secret of hearts.

The challenge is deeper than we can imagine. As we are preparing for the final Banquet in which many peoples will take part, coming from the east, west, north and south, the prophecy of Isaiah presented in the first reading (Is 66) will be fulfilled. God himself will gather the nations from everywhere and they will praise his Holy name. That is why our hearts are not only full of joy, but more importantly of hope. The narrow door may seem difficult, but Christ Himself strengthens us to walk through it. 

We are reminded by the urgent call of our Lord to work hard so that our whole heart may be ready to welcome Him. This is possible even in the smallest of our daily activities. Whatever our duties may be, if we perform them with a renewed heart, they can help us live in readiness for his coming. We don’t know the moment the Son of God will return. But if we live in a constant readiness, we cannot be afraid of his coming. Saint Guido Maria Conforti, the Founder of the Xaverian Missionaries, offers us a beautiful advice in following the footsteps of Jesus. He said: “We will live in this way if we make faith, if in all circumstances we keep Christ in mind; he will always be with us, when we pray, at the altar, when we study, in the many activities of our ministry, in our dealings with others, in times of distress, sorrow and temptation. In all things we will draw inspiration from Him…” (Testament Letter, 7). 

While living here on earth, full of God’s presence, able to discover the marks of his love in our experiences, we cannot continue our journey without sharing the good news of hope to our brothers and sisters, especially those who are still far from His Kingdom, those who might have been disappointed because of our duplicity… From the responsorial psalm (Ps 116), the Lord recalls us to go out to the whole world, proclaim His Good News throughour lives. On the same order of ideas, saint Guido Maria Conforti, reminds us the same invitation: “We must strive to fulfil the sublime goals of the Institute, working with ever increasing zeal for the spreading of the Gospel among non-Christians, thus living our own modest contribution to the fulfillment of Christ’s wish: the formation of a single Christian family embracing all humanity” (TL 1). 

This passage helps us today to highlight the confusion made by some millenarist doctrines about those who will be saved. From the book of Revelation (7: 1-17), we read that 144 000 elected will inherit the Kingdom of God. However, we cannot read the Scriptures without having in our mind, the whole message of the Word of God. Because, connected with the Jesus’ invitation from today’s Gospel, we can have the impression that there are only a few numbers of peoples who will be saved. Yet, the number of those who will see God face to face cannot in any case be limited. 144 000 is a symbolic figure that multiplies Israel (the Twelve tribes) by the New Israel (The Twelve Apostles), and infinity. But God does not stop there. A huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language (Rev 7:9-ss). This is the redemptive mission of God who also wants to see our personal efforts to receive His Salvation. Encouraged by Jesus, we are sure 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”. 

Lord Jesus, have pity on the sinner I am. Show me the way to remain faithful to your love, especially when I fell myself going astray. Increase my zeal for your mission and come to my help to accept your will in every circumstanceof my life. Amen.

1. What “narrow doors” in my daily life—such as forgiveness, sacrifice, or letting go of pride—am I being called to pass through in order to truly live my faith and prepare for the Kingdom of God?
2. How can I actively share the Good News of hope with those who seem far from God’s Kingdom—through my words, actions, or witness—so that they too may experience His love and salvation?