Commentary on the Gospel for October 30, 2024

October 30, 2024

Enter and stay

God’s hospitality is infinite and great. It seems to have a door that is no longer wide, but not even a door. There are no limits: everything is wide and generously open. But today we speak of a narrow door, and this seems a bit contradictory. Strive to enter through the narrow gate. It is almost like saying, do not think that you can enter by right or that you can abuse the goodness of God. For God’s infinite hospitality requires a series of subsequent decisions. They will not enter (even if there is no door) who pretend to build the house according to their own measure; who insist that the fact that there is no door means an open door to do evil. Those who have not extended hospitality to the God who comes and asks for truth, goodness, beauty, justice, generosity, sacrificial discipleship, will not enter. God’s hospitality has two ways. We enter God and we must let God in.

In Luke’s passage there is also a veiled accusation to those who believe that they are already inside, that they have the right to be inside and that they are God’s chosen ones… others will come (they will come from the east and from the west); that is, those who did not believe that they were the depositaries of God’s justice, but who did good and wanted to enter through the narrow door of generosity, compassion and sacrifice, renunciation, peace, will come. Those who have allowed God’s goodness, beauty and truth into their lives. The others, no matter how much they thought they were already in or that there was no door and they could have a life of their own; those who thought they had the right and all the privileges, will not be able to enter. They will not be saved, not because God closes doors, but because they have refused to enter through God’s doors, which are narrow and open at the same time. And because they have refused to let in the God who demands truth, justice, kindness, generosity, service and detachment from self.

Carmen Aguinaco