Today’s gospel explores a
question that can be traced back to the Old Testament times, a question quite
prominent in Jesus’ time, a question very much with us today – who and how many
will be saved? The Pharisees taught that God was planning new creation but who will
be included – some believed all Jewish people but only Jewish people will be
saved; but some believe that even some Jewish people, those who lived in
rebellious times i.e at the time of the flood, or the people in the wilderness
who did not enter promised land, and others would not be included.
It was therefore of great
interest to know what Jesus thought. They ask, “Lord will only a few be saved?”
Jesus gives his answer with a parable, those standing outside of the locked
door. (Perhaps those trying to get into a wedding banquet, symbol of the great banquet
of the Kingdom Heaven.)
Imagine for a moment there is
a big banquet downtown Hamilton honoring the outstanding citizens of Hamilton of
past 20 years. Obviously, those who have lived outstanding lives are invited. At
door everyone is asked to show their invitation; not having an invitation the Doorman
says who are you, there is no record of your good work – “I don’t know who you
are”. Sorry, no admittance. Or think of it this way, people at the gate of
heaven saying, “I have my baptismal certificate”, or others, “I stood up in
church and professed Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior. Again, the Door Keeper
replies that’s not enough, this is banquet for those who have lived holy lives
in God’s service you’re not on the list, what have you done?
“Then you will begin to say,
‘We ate and drank with you, (in church once in a while) and you taught in our
streets (we listen to sermons about you.)’ But the Lord will say, ‘I do not
know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!’
Jesus had much to say on this
question.
"Not everyone who says to
me, "Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who
does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me,
"Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your
name, and do many deeds of power in your name?' Then I will declare to them,
"I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.' Matt 7:21
But when the king came in to
meet the guests, he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said
to him, 'My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?'
But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his
hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be
wailing and grinding of teeth.' (Wedding garments were often given as gifts to
guests so all invited would not decline because their cloths were shabby.) Here the wedding garment symbolizes Sanctifying Grace – unmerited gift given to all invited.) Mtt 22:11
The question, who will be
saved, has been a long-pondered question in the Church and still is pondered today.
Origen of Alexandria, a third-century Christian scholar, proposed a universal-ism answer – everyone is saved, even the Fallen Angels. This proposal was rejected
by Church. St. Augustine and even St. Thomas Aquinas had a much more severe answer,
saying the number will be much fewer.
Church has not given
definitive answer. In recent times the highly respected theologian Hans Urs von
Balthasar argued that God’s will to save souls is universal but because we have
been given freedom to choose some may refuse grace and heaven. Today we might
do well to ask am I invited, which of the Spiritual and Corporal works will be
listed to my credit.
“Then people will come from
east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God.” Will
I be one?
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