Reflecting on Luke 13 today, I would like to reflect mostly on the narrow gate and how repentance can help us to get there.
Repentance or Perishing
“I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”
Luke 13:5
Luke 13 opens strong with this bold statement from Jesus. It sounds to me like we have two options, repentance or perishing. He says this after the people tell him about people who died tragic deaths. However, in his case, Jesus means more than perishing as they did from this world, but from heaven. Repentance saves us from perishing eternally.
Strive to Enter the Narrow Gate
Two days ago, we compared the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew compared to Luke’s. When it came to forgiveness of others, Luke’s version had a stronger assumption that total forgiveness is required to be forgiven. Now, we have another similar passage between Matthew and Luke. This time Luke’s sounds like a more sympathetic read.
“Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” – Luke 13:24
This sounds very similar to:
“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” – Matthew 7:13
The key word that interested me, is how in Luke 13, Jesus says “strive”. Does that mean you don’t have to succeed?
Striving for Relationship
I think in the context of the rest of Luke, I like how “strive” can show the beauty of reconciliation. We want to be close to the Son. We strive for a relationship with him. Yet, we cannot enter the narrow door on our own, so we need His grace. He offers us this grace in the Eucharist and in Reconciliation.
As noted in the beginning of the chapter, we can repent so as to not perish. Yet we still strive for that narrow door and don’t aim for another way around it, because there is no easy way out. Like we talked about yesterday, strive by keeping your eyes on Heaven.
Striving on the Sabbath
There is also a lot of talk about the Sabbath in this chapter, specifically what should and shouldn’t be done on that day. Should Jesus heal on the sabbath?
Well, Jesus points out that everyone at least brings their animals to water on the sabbath. Therefore, he exposes their hypocrisy if they are going to tell him not to do good things. He confirms that there is an ideal that many of us fall short of. But this ties in nicely with what we see with “striving” for the narrow gate (or door). With repentance, we can possibly attain what we were striving for.
Better Soil for a Chance to the Narrow Gate
And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Lo, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?’And he answered him, ‘Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure. And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” – Luke 13:6-9
This parable is nice inspiration of our hope in Advent. The fig tree is given one last chance, with better soil to produce fruit. Are we able to improve our soil through prayer, fasting, or giving? It might improve our odds of producing fruit, showing repentance, and striving towards the narrow gate.
Part of my goal with this whole project this Advent has been to read more of the Gospel and less news and social media. It has helped, but as the novelty wears off, it does get more difficult. If anyone has been following along and reading all these, thanks! I hope they’re helpful or thought provoking. Reading the Gospels every day for the first time in a long time has improved my soil, replacing the barren soil of time that would have been wasted.
To follow along with these readings, you can use the arrows below or find recent posts at Formed by a Flame.
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