ACC ~ Luke 13 v22 - 29

NOT HOW MANY ARE SAVED

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: “Strive to enter in by the narrow door.” This reply may seem perhaps to wander from the scope of the question. The man wanted to learn whether there would be few who are saved, but he explained to him the way whereby he might be saved himself. He said, “Strive to enter in by the narrow door.” What do we answer to this objection? … It was a necessary and valuable thing to know how a man may obtain salvation. He is purposely silent to the useless question. He proceeds to speak of what was essential, namely, of the knowledge necessary for the performance of those duties by which people can enter the narrow door. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 99. [1]

[1] CGSL 396**.

TO ENTER THE NARROW GATE

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: I now consider it my duty to mention why the door to life is narrow. Whoever would enter must first before everything else possess an upright and uncorrupted faith and then a spotless morality, in which there is no possibility of blame, according to the measure of human righteousness. … One who has attained to this in mind and spiritual strength will enter easily by the narrow door and run along the narrow way. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 99. [1]

[1] CGSL 397**.

THOSE WHO IGNORE THE LAW

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: “Wide is the door, and broad the way that brings down many to destruction.” What are we to understand by its broadness? It means an unrestrained tendency toward carnal lust and a shameful and pleasure-loving life. It is luxurious feasts, parties, banquets and unrestricted inclinations to everything that is condemned by the law and displeasing to God. A stubborn mind will not bow to the yoke of the law. This life is cursed and relaxed in all carelessness. Thrusting from it the divine law and completely unmindful of the sacred commandments, wealth, vices, scorn, pride and the empty imagination of earthly pride spring from it. Those who would enter in by the narrow door must withdraw from all these things, be with Christ and keep the festival with him. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 99. [1]

[1] CGSL 397**.

THE FOOD THEY ATE IN THE STREETS

AUGUSTINE: Christ has hidden enemies. All those who live unjust and irreligious lives are Christ’s enemies, even if they are signed with his name and are called Christians. I mean the ones to whom he is going to say, “I do not know you,” and they say to him, “Lord, in your name we ate and drank. In your name, we performed many deeds of power. What did we eat and drink in your name?” You see that they did not value their food very highly, and yet it was with reference to it that they said they belonged to Christ. Christ is the food that is eaten and drunk. Even Christ’s enemies eat and drink him. The faithful know the Lamb without spot on which they feed, if only they fed on it in such a way that they are not liable to punishment! The apostle says, “Whoever eats and drinks unworthily is eating and drinking judgment upon himself.” [1] SERMON 308A.6. [2]

[1] 1 Cor 11:29.

[2] WSA 3 9:59**.

ENTERING THE NARROW GATE

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: You may count certain others among those able to say to the judge of all, “We have eaten and drunk in your presence, and you have taught in our streets.” Who again are these? Many have believed in Christ and have celebrated the holy festivals in his honor. Frequenting the churches, they also hear the doctrines of the gospel, but they remember absolutely nothing of the truths of Scripture. With difficulty, they bring with them the practice of virtue, while their heart is quite bare of spiritual fruitfulness. These will also weep bitterly and grind their teeth, because the Lord will also deny them. He said, “Not everyone that says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” [1] COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 99. [2]

[1] Mt 7:21.

[2] CGSL 398**.

FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE WORLD

AUGUSTINE: The shepherds came from nearby to see, and the magi came from far away to worship. This is the humility for which the wild olive deserved to be grafted into the olive tree and against nature to produce olives. It deserved to change nature through grace. They come from the farthest parts of the earth, saying according to Jeremiah, “Truly our fathers worshiped lies.” [1] They come, not just from one part of the world, but as the Gospel according to Luke says, “from east and west, from north and south, to sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” SERMON 203.3. [2]

[1] Jer 16:19.

[2] WSA 3 6:96*.