Lord, will only a few people be saved? (Luke 13: 23)

This was the question raised to Jesus by someone in the crowd when he was passing through the villages and towns teaching while heading to Jerusalem. However, Jesus did not give a number nor did He answer him directly. Rather, He said, “My friend, strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able” (v. 24). Jesus was answering a more important question, “How can I be saved?”

I think this is what should concern us. How can we be saved? I believe that in order to be saved, we need to be a friend of God and do what He tells us to do, just like when Our Blessed Mother was at Cana and witnessed the shortage of wine. She said to the waiters, do whatever He tells you, referring to her son, Jesus. And, because the waiters obeyed Jesus, there was the first miracle, turning water of jars into wine.

They said there are only two kinds of people in this world: those who are being used by God for His purposes and those who are using God for their own purposes. One is serving God and the other is serving their own desires. Therefore, for those of us who are trying to become friends of God, let us try to do what God expects of us.

Let us follow, too, the advice of our second reading taken from the letter to the Hebrews: “My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges. Endure your trials as discipline; God treats you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” (Hebrew 12: 5-7). We should be grateful if we experience discipline, trials and scourges. This means that we are loved and considered as friends by God.

Let us also remember that what others say cannot be the measure of what is ethical, moral or right even if it is legal. The view of the majority is not necessarily the view of God. Let us put our trust in God and walk in His ways. Then we will realize that we can do all things through Christ because He gives us the strength to enter through the narrow gate.

St. Monica, whose feast day is on August 27th, experienced a lot of trials and scourges in dealing with her husband and son, Augustine, but because she trusted and walked in the ways of God even if it was hard, she ended up victorious by saving them all. Now they are being remembered as great saints of the universal Church. St. Monica and St. Augustine, pray for us that we may also be in heaven someday.