Catholic Homily for October 29, 2025
Are You Taking the Wide Road to Nowhere?
Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Luke 13:22–30
Someone in the crowd asked Jesus a direct question: “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”
It’s the kind of question we all wonder about but rarely say out loud:
- Are most people going to heaven or hell?
- Is salvation really that hard to find?
- What are my actual chances of making it?
Instead of giving a theological lecture or comforting statistics, Jesus gave a warning that should make us all pay attention.
“Strive to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.”
Wait – what? Many will try but won’t be able to? That’s not the answer anyone was expecting.
We Love Wide Roads and Open Gates
Let’s be honest about human nature: We prefer the easy way.
We Like Religion That’s Comfortable:
- Services that don’t challenge us too much
- Standards that aren’t too demanding
- A God who accepts us exactly as we are and never asks us to change
We Like Salvation That’s Automatic:
- Just say a prayer once and you’re guaranteed heaven
- Just be born into a Christian family
- Just be generally nice and everything will work out
We Like Wide, Inclusive Gates:
- Everyone gets in eventually
- All paths lead to the same place
- God is too loving to exclude anyone
But Jesus talks about a narrow door that requires effort to enter. This isn’t what we want to hear.
Jesus tells a disturbing story about people who were completely confident about their relationship with Him:
“Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.'”
Then they will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!'”
These People Had Religious Credentials:
They could point to real experiences with Jesus:
- “We ate and drank with you” – They shared meals with Him
- “You taught in our streets” – They heard His preaching
- They were part of the religious community
- They had access to Jesus that others didn’t have
But Jesus says the most terrifying words in the Bible: “I don’t know you.”
Familiarity Is Not Discipleship
Here’s the shocking truth: You can be around Jesus and never really know Him.
Religious Proximity Doesn’t Equal Relationship:
- Going to church every week
- Growing up in a Christian family
- Knowing Bible stories and Christian songs
- Even serving in ministry
None of these things automatically create a real relationship with Jesus.
Closeness by Habit Is Not Communion of Heart:
These people in the story were geographically close to Jesus:
- They lived where He taught
- They attended His public appearances
- They probably knew what He looked like and sounded like
But they never let Him into their hearts. They never actually followed Him. They were religious spectators, not disciples.
It’s possible to be familiar with Jesus without being faithful to Him.
Why the Door Is Narrow
The door isn’t narrow because God is mean or exclusive. It’s narrow because real love is concrete and specific.
Real Love Requires Real Choices:
The narrow door forces us to leave things behind:
- Pride that refuses to apologize
- Selfishness that won’t share
- Anger that won’t forgive
- Habits that hurt ourselves and others
The Door Is Narrow Because Discipleship Is Specific:
It’s not enough to have good feelings about Jesus. The narrow door requires:
Forgiveness Given When Pride Resists:
- Saying “I’m sorry” when you’ve been wrong
- Forgiving people who have hurt you deeply
- Letting go of grudges that feel justified
Honesty Kept When Shortcuts Tempt:
- Telling the truth when lying would be easier
- Doing the right thing when no one is watching
- Being faithful to commitments when it’s inconvenient
Mercy Shown When Anger Feels Justified:
- Helping people who don’t deserve it
- Being kind to people who have been cruel to you
- Choosing compassion over revenge
The narrow door requires us to actually live like Jesus, not just admire Him.
“The Last Will Be First and the First Last”
Jesus ends with another shocking statement: “Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”
The people who look most successful in religious terms might not be the ones who actually enter the kingdom:
- The pastor who preaches beautifully but treats his family terribly
- The church member who knows all the right answers but shows no mercy
- The person with impressive spiritual credentials who has no real love
Meanwhile, the people who seem least likely might be the ones who enter:
- The recovering addict who truly repents
- The person with a simple faith who serves others quietly
- Someone who knows they’re a sinner and desperately needs Jesus
Rank Reverses Where Humility Walks In:
In God’s kingdom:
- Titles fade but obedience remains
- Religious reputation matters less than actual character
- Position in the church matters less than position in your heart
The narrow door humbles everyone equally. Rich or poor, educated or simple, religious leader or ordinary believer – everyone has to bend down and squeeze through.
How to Strive Without Fear
Jesus says we need to “strive” to enter the narrow door. But how do we do that without becoming anxious or legalistic?
Not by Force, But by Daily Fidelity:
Striving doesn’t mean trying harder to be perfect. It means being consistent in the basics:
Prayer That Is Steady:
- Daily conversation with God, not just crisis prayers
- Regular time set aside, not just when you feel like it
- Honest communication about your struggles and needs
Repentance That Is Prompt:
- Confessing sin quickly instead of letting it build up
- Making amends when you’ve hurt someone
- Changing behavior patterns that lead you away from God
Charity That Is Practical:
- Actually helping people in need, not just feeling sorry for them
- Serving in ways that cost you something
- Showing love through actions, not just words
The narrow door isn’t entered through one dramatic moment – it’s entered through thousands of small, faithful choices.
Three Steps for the Narrow Way Today
1. Close One Open Compromise – End What Blocks Grace
Be honest about what’s keeping you from following Jesus wholeheartedly:
- An ongoing sin you keep excusing
- A relationship that’s pulling you away from God
- A habit that’s hurting your spiritual life
- A compromise you’ve been making for too long
Choose one specific area and close that door today. Stop making excuses. Stop saying “someday.” Deal with it now.
2. Make One Small Reconciliation – Apologize or Release a Debt
The narrow door requires us to get right with people:
- Apologize to someone you’ve hurt
- Forgive someone who has hurt you
- Pay back money you owe
- Make peace with a family member
- Clear the air with a friend
Choose one person and one specific action. Make it happen this week.
3. Keep One Hidden Discipline – Scripture, Rosary, or Fast
Develop one spiritual practice that nobody knows about except you and God:
- Read one chapter of Scripture every day before breakfast
- Pray the rosary during your commute
- Fast from lunch once a week and pray for someone’s salvation
- Spend 10 minutes in silent prayer before bed
The key is that it’s hidden (so you’re doing it for God, not recognition) and consistent (so it becomes a real discipline).
The Door Is Open Now
Here’s the good news: The door is still open. Jesus is still calling people to enter.
But it won’t always be open:
- Your life on earth is limited
- Your opportunities to respond are not endless
- There will come a time when the door closes
The time to enter is now, while you still can.
Enter by Trust and Truth
To enter the narrow door:
Trust:
- Trust that Jesus really is the way to salvation
- Trust that His way is better than your way
- Trust that He’ll help you live the life He’s calling you to
Truth:
- Be honest about your need for a Savior
- Be truthful about your sins and failures
- Be real about your struggles and limitations
The narrow door doesn’t require you to be perfect – it requires you to be honest.
The narrow door is still open, but it requires a decision. Will you keep taking the wide road of religious familiarity, or will you strive to enter through the narrow door of real discipleship? Jesus wants to know you – not just know about you. The choice is yours.
A Prayer for Those Seeking the Narrow Door
Jesus, I don’t want to be someone who is familiar with You but not known by You. I don’t want to assume that just because I’m around Christian things, I’m actually following You. Help me be honest about the areas of my life where I’ve been making compromises.
Show me what needs to change so that I can enter through the narrow door. Give me the courage to leave behind whatever is keeping me from following You wholeheartedly. I want You to know me – in my choices, my wounds, and my yes to Your call. Help me strive faithfully, not out of fear, but out of love for You. Welcome me to Your table, not because I deserve it, but because I trust in Your mercy. Amen.
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