Church of the
Annunciation

On Saturday morning I attended a funeral Mass in Queen of Martyrs Church in Cheektowaga. From my vantage point at the altar I could see two banners hanging in the back. One read: “You are precious in my eyes.” The second: “And I love you.” These words were undoubtedly comforting to Eugenia’s husband and family as they walked out of Church – sustaining them in their loss and assuring them that Eugenia enjoys God’s gift of salvation. In the Gospel according to Luke, a person asks Jesus: “Lord, will only a few be saved.” Jesus responds: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” Is Jesus raising the bar and making salvation hard to get? Isaiah (1st reading) envisions a time when God will gather the nations to Jerusalem, his holy mountain, to enjoy the blessings of the covenant and to see God’s glory. To us, Jesus fulfills the promise, as both Jews and Gentiles are invited to enter into God’s Kingdom. Indeed many are called! But it seems entry into the Kingdom is a difficult task. We cannot do it by our own effort. God’s salvation is a gift. It is not achieved but received. The author of the letter to the Hebrews (2nd reading) speaks of the need for spiritual discipline to enable us to discern what (who) is really precious. Jesus tells his listeners what can happen to those who do not put any effort into “working out” spiritually; to those who are content to be in his company without embracing and living his way of life. Our passage through the narrow gate is determined by God’s grace and our fidelity and integrity in Christ.