Reflection on Lk. 13:22-30
While passing through towns, Jesus was asked, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" Seems like a very important question. They were interested in salvation. They were interested in the number who will be saved. They were interested in the answer of Jesus who they have developed a respect for. But, interestingly, Jesus did NOT answer the question! Why? His answer will lead us to the answer! This incident again leads us to the heart and mind of the Lord. For Him, the number of those who will be saved and knowing the chances of being saved, were not important compared to HOW one can be saved. Jesus ignored the question but gave an answer that will help more the people. For Him, knowing how many will be saved does not really help much compared to knowing the ways to salvation. In fact, without the knowledge of the ways, even having a great chance to be saved amounts to nothing. The knowledge of knowing one's chances brings him back to where he was before he knew those information.
The Lord Jesus did not stop in telling them hat they had asked the wrong question. Rather, He told them how they could guarantee their salvation. It is not a secret to the Jews the fate of the sinners of their time. The prostitutes, robbers, murderers, adulterers, tax collectors, and other were ostracized in society because of their crimes and sins. They were considered lost, last, and least in society. However, in pointing out to the Jews the mercy of God and the way to salvation, Jesus revealed to them the necessity of repentance for salvation. repentance here means total union with God. The lesson of the Pharisee comes to the picture. No matter how committed we are in our religious obligations and activities, if we had not developed a repentant heart, we can not receive God's justice. The story of the Tax collector and the Pharisee gave us that message. These so called "anawims" and sinners; once they recognize the lord Jesus and repented, God's justice will surely be received by them. Again we remember Matthew, Zacchaeus, Magdalene, Augustine, Peter, and Paul! All great sinners in their time, but all humbles themselves before God! God gave them His mercy; and with God's mercy, salvation.
Therefore, asking the right questions will help us receive the right answers. What we do with the right answers also matters. Once we receive the right answer, let us try to work on them. If we were sincere in our question, we should also be sincere in receiving the answer. Seriously receiving the answer means putting them into action. At this point, it will be good to remember another character in the Gospels; the rich young man. Having been a faithful Jew by following all the commandment since he was a child, he approached the Lord with the same question about salvation. The Lord responded by telling Him to obey the commandments. The man responded that he had done ever since. If it was enough, the Lord could have stopped right there. But it was not enough. The Lord challenged the rich young man to establish his want for the Kingdom by asking him to leave everything and follow Him. We know the story. The rich young man left Jesus. He was told by Jesus what to do. He was surprised. He can not leave his riches. He was so attached to his riches that he could not leave them for Jesus. He is only willing to follow the commandments but he was not willing to go with the "commander"! He was only interested in the grace, but not in the source of grace. He believed that he has better chances of getting salvation through his riches than the Lord who is the source of all riches. Thus, it is revealed, that his heart was not yet for God. He was doing things for the Lord, but he was not yet for the Lord. In that case, salvation is still far from him.
The next time we pray, be aware of the questions we ask the Lord. Are they relevant? Are we willing to accept God's answer? Are we willing to do them? For salvation's sake, do it!
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