Daily Reading & Meditation

Scripture:   Luke 13:22-30

22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

23 And some one said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them,

24 "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

25 When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, `Lord, open to  us.' He will answer you, `I do not know where you come from.'

26 Then you will begin to say, `We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.'

27 But he will say, `I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!'

28 There you will weep and gnash your teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out.

29 And men will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God.

30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."

Meditation:

       What does the image of a door say to us about the kingdom of God? Jesus' story about the door being shut to those who come too late suggests they had offended their host and deserved to be excluded. It was customary for teachers in Jesus' time to close the door on tardy students and not allow them back for a whole week in order to teach them a lesson in discipline and faithfulness.

Jesus told this story in response to the question of who will make it to heaven - to God's kingdom of everlasting peace and eternal life. Many rabbis held that all Israel would be saved and gain entry into God's kingdom, except for a few blatant sinners who excluded themselves! After all, they were specially chosen by God when he established a covenant relationship with them.

"Lord Jesus, may I never doubt your guiding presence and mercy towards me. Through the gift of your Spirit fill me with courage and persevering faith to trust you in all things and every circumstance I find myself in. Give me the strength to cling to your promises when the world around me begins to shake or crumble. And when my love and zeal begin to waver, fan it into a flame of consuming love and dedication for you who are my All."