The Narrow Door of Love

Luke 13: 23-24, 30 -- Welcoming All

Someone asked Jesus, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. . . . For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Throughout many Christian communities -- churches, small groups, people who profess deep faith in Jesus -- we see hypocrisy. Today is no different from Jesus’ time on earth. People in the first-century Jewish communities felt they were the “chosen ones,” and that their status as children of Abraham entitled them to salvation in the kingdom of God. They believed, moreover, the title of “first” was theirs, and that they could reject Jesus as Savior. For they had Moses, Jacob, and Abraham as their ancestry. And in this section of Luke’s Gospel as well as in Mark and Matthew, Jesus teaches the opposite: There is no such thing as entitlement in the kingdom of God. And yes, even the lowly Gentiles will displace the Jewish community members who believe they have a reserved seat in the kingdom. 

When we look around our own faith communities and see only those polished, upstanding citizens seated in our pews and welcomed into our churches, we must recall Jesus’ words. When our doctrines ostracize people who are wonderfully different, people who don’t fit the “norm” of sin-avoiding church-goer, we must recall Jesus’ words. And when we ourselves make mental notes of people who appear to “live in sin” and cast mental stones at them, we must recall Jesus’ words: “For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Make no mistake. The narrow door is not a door owned by any one Christian community, nor is it governed by any of the doctrines our denominations may teach. The narrow door is one of love and action; it is a door of outreach, mercy, welcome, and acceptance. 

Loving God, I pray that we all look to enter through the narrow door of your loving way. Grant us the humility to see all people with your merciful eyes and to welcome them with your loving heart. In Jesus Christ we pray, amen. 

Peace, 

Stan

The Average Joe

Matthew 1:20-21, 24 -- God Blesses the Ordinary

But just when [Joseph] had resolved to [quietly dismiss Mary], an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” . . . When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife. . .

Recently, I took a short vacation with my family to a town nestled in the mountains of Pennsylvania. And I had an opportunity to visit a local church to attend what we call in my faith tradition a Holy Day celebration. Upon entering the church, blessing myself with holy water, genuflecting at the pew, and doing my best to be focused and open to God, I looked up and noticed that there were eight beautiful stained glass windows depicting the story of Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. One window, however, offered me a reminder of how God blesses the ordinary. 

According to Matthew’s Gospel, Joseph was a righteous man and unwilling to expose Mary to any shame, for she was pregnant. And as we know, Joseph was not the biological father of Mary’s child. This meant that if Mary were exposed, she would be stoned to death. Joseph, then, decided he would quietly break off their plan to marry. But in a dream, God sent an angel to reassure Joseph about marrying Mary, revealing the divine paternity of her child. Although we imagine Joseph as extraordinary since he was chosen by God for his part in the story of salvation, Joseph was an ordinary person like any of us. 

The stained glass window depicts this amazing story. It shows Joseph’s sleeping encounter with the angel. The angel reaches out to bless the head of the sleeping Joseph with a vision of Mary holding the child Jesus in her arms. Joseph’s position in the image depicts obedience. 

The image reminds me that we are called to do God’s work on this earth. In our ordinariness, we, too, are called to be part of the salvation story on earth. The stained glass image reminds me that when we choose to do something out of love, God blesses us and sends us forth as purveyors of the Good News of Jesus Christ. What challenges are we asked to surmount for the sake of love today? 

Heavenly Father, we ask you to bless and guide us in our daily lives so that we can be the voice, eyes, ears, feet, and hands of love in this world. In Jesus Christ we pray, amen. 

Peace, 

Stan

Servant Leadership

Matthew 20:26-28 (NRSV): The Attitude of Service

Jesus said, “Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Being great, being first, is the American way. Isn’t it? We are a competitive people always looking for a better way to grow and increase our worth. We work hard, save, and purchase products that make our lives easier and happier. At work, we look to climb the corporate ladder. At home, we look to increase our social standing among our neighbors. Competition and material pleasure go together. And on the surface, there is nothing wrong with working hard and earning a comfortable living. Our ambitions, however, often take priority in our lives at the expense of those around us. 

Jesus, in this passage from Matthew’s Gospel, corrects his disciples who a few verses earlier are vying for power and control over each other. James and John creatively and indirectly ask, through their mother’s request, to be Jesus’ right and left-hand men. Jesus’ message is clear: His way is one of service, humility, sacrifice, and self-giving. And anyone who follows him, will seek to follow this model of servitude. 

Jesus flips the tables of human understanding regarding power and social status. Leadership and greatness are positions of servitude and sacrifice. And the example Jesus gives is the sacrifice of his life for all. To live, in essence, is to die to self and live for the love of God and others. That is one tall order that so often defies the habits of humanity. 

How, then, do I strive to live as Jesus teaches? Not without struggle and imperfection, that’s for sure. But I can start with baby steps. I can start with the next person I see. If I make them the priority by listening, caring, giving, and being present, then I am striving to be more like Jesus. Living in service to others is something I get wrong every day. But it does not mean that I quit. It is a beautiful thing to know that God is such a forgiving father who loves us no matter our faults. All God asks is that we continue to try. 

Heavenly Father, help me to love and give myself to others more each day. And thank you for your patience. In Jesus Christ I pray, amen. 

Peace, 

Stan