30th Week in Ordinary Time

I do not know where you are from. 

What an odd thing to say! In the parable from today’s Gospel, Jesus says that the “master of the house” will refuse entry to those knocking at his door by telling them, “I do not know where you are from” (Luke 13:25). Not I don’t recognize you or I don’t trust you. But I don’t know where you’re from.

It seems the master didn’t really know these folks very well. But they must have thought that they knew him well enough. As they say, they ate and drank in his company, and he taught in their streets (Luke 13:26). But it turns out that they had only a superficial relationship with him. And because of that, he decided not to open the door to them.

Jesus told this parable in response to the question “Will only a few people be saved?” (Luke 13:23). He wanted to make the point that we shouldn’t take salvation—entry into the master’s house—for granted.

Now, we know that God “wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). But if we want to come to that knowledge of the truth, we can’t keep Jesus at the periphery of our lives. We need a life-giving relationship with him that goes deeper than simply hearing his teachings or attending Mass. He wants us to know him, and he wants to know us.

The good news is that Jesus is calling you into just that kind of relationship. Through his death and resurrection, he has opened the way for you to know him—and to know him deeply.

And your part? Spend time with him. Invite him in, not just to the parts of your life that anyone could know from the outside, but into every corner. Take the risk of telling him all the things you might be afraid to say. Dare to bring your hurts and your failings into his light. Tell him you’re willing to listen to whatever he has to say to you. In other words, give him permission to see where you are from. And invite him to be Lord over it all.

Jesus is longing for a deeper relationship with you. So talk to him—about everything! Just imagine the look of delight on his face when he opens the door to the Father’s house and sees you!

“Jesus, I don’t want to have a superficial relationship with you. I give you access to every part of my life.”

Ephesians 6:1-9
Psalm 145:10-14
Luke 13:22-30