Jesus reimagines leadership and privilege

The tone of the Gospel for the Twenty-first Sunday in Peculiar Time is perhaps alarming or off-putting. Jesus visits communities and informs them that not all might be saved, as some “is not going to be strong enough.” As we wrestle with this text, we must always be mindful of its intended purpose, which is to encourage reasonably than exclude.

Within the Gospel reading from Luke, Jesus travels to quite a lot of communities: “Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching,” proclaiming the openness of the Gospel. The depiction of Jesus going out and encountering people in their very own homes serves as a model for evangelization. Jesus meets diverse people where they’re, and he teaches them in ways in which encourage and challenge. This motion helps us to interpret the remainder of the passage which could seem especially exclusionary.

Jesus’ teachings encourage critical reflection, as someone inquires about how many individuals can be saved. Jesus does indirectly answer the query but gives a robust statement and short story in response.

“Strive to enter through the narrow gate.” Why would the gate to the dominion of God be narrow? Shouldn’t or not it’s wide in order that many individuals can enter? The narrow gate won’t be to maintain people out of the dominion but reasonably to require work to enter the dominion. Jesus never gives an explicit limit on what number of can enter; as an alternative, he affirms that not all persons are willing to take some time that is required for entry. The price of entry is love—love of God and love of neighbors—and unfortunately some are unwilling to pay that cost.

Jesus notes that leaders mustn’t assume their very own privilege and position routinely ends in a spot in the dominion, as a few of the last might be first, and a few of the first might be last.

While stating that some people wouldn’t enter, Jesus also notes that individuals from throughout would enter: “People will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and can recline at table in the dominion of God.” Again, this reiterates the broadness and openness of the dominion. Jesus’ ministry was clearly inclusive of all people, yet he stresses that individuals should be willing to vary themselves with a purpose to live out the Gospel.

At the top of the passage, Jesus speaks about leadership, which is a subject that has been addressed over the past few Sundays. Jesus notes that leaders mustn’t assume their very own privilege and position routinely ends in a spot in the dominion, as a few of the last might be first, and a few of the first might be last.

This Gospel offers us many avenues for reflection. It’s a reminder that we must recognize our responsibility in living and promoting the Gospel to enter the dominion of God. Furthermore, today’s Gospel affirms that those that are “forged out” are in such a position due to their very own actions or inaction, not because God just isn’t open and welcoming. Finally, the top of the Gospel offers a chance to take into consideration hierarchies within the church and world, as Jesus gives us a vision of the dominion as he reimagines notions of leadership and privilege.