Once again, Jesus is presented with an intriguing question which he does not answer but which he uses to impart an important teaching. “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” Jesus replies by saying, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.”
Jesus does not tell how many will be saved but who will be saved. What is more important to know is not how many will be saved but how one can be saved.
We are all called to salvation. This is the very reason why Jesus came on earth and became man. He came that all may have life, and have it abundantly. (cf Jn 10:10) And he came to save not only the people of Israel, but all peoples. Already in the Old Testament, the call to universal salvation was announced by the prophets. The first reading describes Isaiah’s vision of God who gathers all the nations of every language to come and see his glory in Jerusalem, his holy mountain. A similar image is evoked at the end of the gospel where “people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God.”
However, Jesus also tells us that while the door to salvation is open to all, it is narrow and difficult. Only those who are willing to pay the cost will succeed in passing through. What does this mean? Only those who are willing to follow Jesus all the way will be saved.
To better understand this, we need to remember the context of today’ gospel. It opens with Jesus making his journey to Jerusalem to fulfill God’s plan of salvation through his death and resurrection. On his way, he preaches in the towns and villages which provide a fitting platform for his teaching on discipleship (following of Jesus). To attain salvation, it is not enough to listen to Jesus who teaches along the way. To be saved one has to follow him all the way – to Calvary and to the cross. That is why we read at the end of the parable that the door of the kingdom is closed to those who claim, “[But] we ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.”
Salvation is not an entitlement or a claim born of some religious affiliation or presumption. It is not even guaranteed by one’s being circumcised or baptized. Salvation is attained by entering the narrow door who is Christ himself. “I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.” (Jn 10:9)
Two weeks ago, Fr Dominic, one of our exorcists, was invited by a school to give a talk to their students who were disturbed by alleged strange phenomena and diabolical possession in the campus. After explaining that diabolical possession is a serious matter and that perhaps many of their complaints may just be forms of harassment by the devil, he opened the floor for discussion. After a slow start, the students took turns in bombarding the priest with many questions. What surprised him was that not a question was asked about exorcism. Most of the questions were about death. “What happens after death?…Is there life after death?…” It was then he learned that the students were badly affected by the number of suicides in the community involving young people and even elementary pupils. And the reasons? One was scolded by his parents, another could not stand bullying, and still another was jilted by his boyfriend, etc.
It’s so sad that today’s youth are so vulnerable to the least difficulty they encounter in life. Studies show that the rate of suicides among youth aged 15-24 has doubled. In the first half of 2025, the Philippine National Police reported that nearly 2,000 suicide cases are linked to bullying. Coud it be that we have spoiled our children and shielded them from the hard realities of life that they have grown spineless? It might do well to reassess how we raise and discipline them.
The road to eternal life is steep indeed. But this is true with all life. Even with our temporal life on earth. It can only be meaningful when we take the hard path. No pain, no gain. No guts, no glory. Such is the law of life.
The door to eternal life is narrow. But this should not scare us because Jesus is that door. It is narrow, not because it is oppressive but because it is demanding. It requires us to die to our pride, selfishness, and sinfulness so that we can rise with Christ’s own life of goodness, love and grace. Yes, the door of Christ is narrow, but it is always open wide and welcomes all.