In the Gospel today, someone asked Jesus: “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” Instead of giving a number or direct answer, Jesus points to what really matters: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.” He reminds us that it’s not enough to simply know Him or call Him “Lord.” What matters is how we live—whether our actions reflect our love for God. In the end, Jesus says, “Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
This message hits close to home for me. When my 5-day-old niece, Patricia, passed away, I asked God: “Is she saved? She was not baptized yet…” Maybe you’ve also asked similar questions in your own life: “Why did this happen? Is my loved one with God? What about me?” These are real questions that come from the heart. But the Gospel reminds us not to dwell on who or how many will be saved. Instead, the challenge is personal: Am I striving to enter the narrow gate?
To be saved is not automatic—it requires effort, prayer, and discipline. Like in the seminary or even in our own families, growth does not happen without sacrifice. We are tested in patience, humility, and perseverance. To be saved means to share in the very life of God, who is Love. And that love must be visible in our actions: in forgiving those who hurt us, in serving those in need, in being faithful to prayer, and in choosing what is right even when it is difficult.
In the end, salvation is not about asking, “Are others saved?” but asking myself: “Am I living my life in a way that makes me fit to enter the narrow gate of love?”
