Twenty-first Ordinary

Luke 13: 23 – 24

Jesus said, “A lot of you are going to assume that you sit down to God’s salvation banquet just because you’ve been hanging around the neighbourhood all your lives. Well, one day you’re going to be banging on the door, wanting to get in, but you’ll find the door locked and the Master saying, ‘Sorry, you’re not on my guest list.’”

“Lord, will only a few be saved?” It’s a striking question – blunt, bold, and perhaps even one we’ve quietly wondered ourselves. Jesus doesn’t answer with numbers or comfort. Instead, he says, “Strive to enter through the narrow door.” It’s not exactly the reassurance we might expect. But it’s a challenge we, as Catholic educators, urgently need to hear.

In today’s schools, the “narrow door” can look like living and teaching the faith when it’s easier to keep it quiet. It’s choosing to embed Gospel values not just into lessons, but into our presence, our decisions, and our relationships. It’s speaking the truth gently but firmly, creating space for a real encounter with Christ, and being people of integrity in a world that prizes convenience. Our students don’t need perfect teachers – they need real witnesses. They need to see that this faith is not just a subject, but a way of life.

It’s easy to settle for being “nice” or “neutral,” but Catholic education was never meant to be bland. It’s meant to be bold – a space where eternity is part of the conversation, where the person of Jesus is at the centre, and where every student is invited to a life of meaning, purpose and holiness. And that begins with us – striving, not coasting; stepping forward, not opting out.

The narrow door is not about fear or pressure – it’s about focus. It’s about waking up each day ready to choose Christ again, even when it’s hard, even when it costs us. Because the truth is, if we don’t walk that road ourselves, we can’t hope to lead anyone else through it. So let’s be educators who don’t just talk about the Gospel – let’s live it. Let’s strive, together, to enter through the narrow door.