BUT WILL NOT BE STRONG ENOUGH

Eph 6.1-9; Ps 144; Lk 13.22-30
31 OCTOBER

Jesus, filled with the Spirit of wisdom, intelligence, counsel and knowledge, never lets himself be drawn into vain and idle questions. He always speaks from the science and from the truth of his Father. It is of no use to men to know if those who are saved are few or many. Nor do they need to know if hell is empty or full. By a theological absurd and against the truth of the Gospel which affirms that many are those who are lost, I could be alone tomorrow to be plunged into that place of eternal torment. The word of Jesus is divinely wise and intelligent: “Strive to enter through the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter, but they will not succeed”. Here is the first terrifying reality of humanity’s eternal future: “Many will try to enter, but they will not succeed”. What prevents them from entering, while trying to enter? Reading the Gospel according to Matthew it is clear that many will present themselves with apparently evangelical works, but that in reality they are not at all according to the Gospel.

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them. “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. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers’ (Mt 7,13-23).

According to another Word of Jesus the Lord, the impossibility is given by non-perseverance to the end. You start with the kingdom of God, you end up with the kingdom of Satan.

“Watch out for yourselves. They will hand you over to the courts. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will be arraigned before governors and kings because of me, as a witness before them. But the gospel must first be preached to all nations. When they lead you away and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say. But say whatever will be given to you at that hour. For it will not be you who are speaking but the holy Spirit. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved (Mk 13,9-13).

There is only one way to enter the eternal kingdom of God: live forever in his Word. Only the Word is the divine chariot that leads man from earth to heaven.

He passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where (you) are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And 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. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Every Christian must have little interest to what the other Christian says about the kingdom of heaven. Everyone is asked to put all attention to reach it. It is the truth.

Wise Virgin, Angels and Saints, free us from the foolishness that leads to perdition.