WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD A story is told about a good and devout Catholic barangay chairman who died and off he went to the next life. In the afterlife, one either goes to the top floor called “heaven” where the righteous get their reward of eternal bliss. Those who have venial sins go to the second floor called “purgatory,” and the damned are herded to the fiery basement that’s “hell.” * * * Now the barangay chairman arrived at the second floor (purgatory). As he roamed about his new home, to his surprise he met his former parish priest. “Father, I didn't expect you to be here,” the excited parishioner blurted. “Why aren't you up there?” pointing to heaven. “Ssshhhh, quiet, brod; on my way here, I met our mayor down below us!” said the priest pointing to the basement (hell). * * * This is an amusing story but it somehow illustrates Christ's teaching in this Sunday’s gospel that “there are those last now who will be first, and first now who will be last” (Lk 13,30). * * * What Christ means is that there will be a reversal of places in God’s kingdom. He was referring particularly to the Israelites, the chosen people, who were privileged to “eat and drink in his company” and who believed that blood descent from Abraham or being a Jew was a sure-fire guarantee of salvation. * * * Jesus’ declaration, however, is not only to his countrymen but to all his followers. He warns us that that we must enter through the narrow door to gain eternal salvation” (Lk 13,24). By “narrow door,” Jesus means, as the word connotes, that entering involves difficulty, inconvenience, and struggle. God's kingdom is not for the easy-goer, the lazy, the irresponsible. * * * What's required is a faith that bears fruit in works of love that’s consistent with one's conduct. For instance, there’s a mayor who never fails to attend Sunday Mass. He even enjoins his constituents to follow his good example. However, he’s engaged in big-time smuggling of taxable goods. * * * Entering through the narrow door can connote doing the will of God in situations that are difficult, like being faithful to one’s spouse when the temptation is so strong to be disloyal, or to be honest while seeing some office mates enrich themselves with ill-gotten wealth. * * * Another “narrow door” can be the difficulty of forgiving one’s enemy despite the Lord’s unequivocal statement: “If you don’t forgive your brother his offence, your heavenly Father will not forgive you either” (Matthew 6,15). Entering the narrow door is not a choice but a condition of entering the Kingdom of God. Finally, let’s follow the Lord’s teaching while we have the time. Time is short. The door is open, but it will soon be closed for some of us. Nobody lives forever. * * * Support seminarians. Our seminarians have returned from summer break and are now enrolling. Under our Adopt-A-Seminarian scholarship program, may I appeal for help since parents are financially hard-up due to the long and distressing Covid pandemic. * * * Seminarians are very important since they will be future priests, missionaries, and bishops. Kindly help by donating for their matriculations and other expenses. Donate any amount or sponsor a seminarian's schooling good for one school year. For inquiry, e-mail me at: [email protected]. Thank you.