JESUS SAID, "I DO NOT KNOW YOU..."

Prof./Evang. Michael P. Howard MACS

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

"I do not know where you are from." (Lk. 13:20-30).

Over the past four weeks, the image of Jesus has presented us with challenges as we continue to journey deeper into a meaningful relationship. Four weeks ago, Jesus referred to a rich man as a fool for wanting a larger barn. The following week, the Bright Morning Star, Jesus, stretched our faith by calling us to sell our belongings and give to those in need. As difficult as it is, God always encourages us to embrace the generosity of the Holy One.

Last Sunday, Jesus, our Shalom, told His disciples that He did not come to bring peace, but division, indicating that family members would stand against each other. Today, Luke's Gospel invites us to reflect on the idea that some will not make it into the Kingdom of God. To those individuals, they will hear unsettling words like, "I do not know where you are from."

This quote from Jesus seems contrary to the character of Jesus. We all know that Jesus is the All-Knowing One, and yet, Jesus' saying He does not know where we are from challenges the elasticity in our faith. This is not a casual statement, but a call to action. Interestingly, in Matthew's Gospel, Jesus said similar words to the five foolish virgins when their lamps ran out of oil, "Amen, I say to you, I do not know you" (Mt. 25:12). Our faith at this moment could be feeling the tension, the stretching, the expansion of our faith. What can we say about Jesus not knowing us when the Psalmist makes this declaration about God:

".... you know me: you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. You sift through my travels and my rest; with all my ways, you are familiar. Even before a word is on my tongue, LORD, you know it all" (Ps. 139:1-4).

Looking further into our gospel, I invite you to pray on this verse to discover who really knows who: "We ate and drank in your company, and you taught in our streets" (Lk. 13:26). Here, we see people believing that eating, drinking, and listening to Jesus meets the criteria to recline at the table in the Kingdom of God. These people during Jesus's time were selfish. They spoke about what they did, but not what they did for others. They did not know Jesus!

Luke paints a profound picture of a narrow door: "Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough" (Lk. 13:24). In other words, it is not enough to merely listen to Jesus' teachings; we must also act on them, "Be doers of the word and not hearers only" (Ja. 1:25). Theologically, only those who live according to the word of God will be able to enter through the narrow door, these individuals know Jesus.

Jesus calls us to do more than eat and drink. He seeks individuals who will feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit those in prison, and care for our planet as it continues to suffer. This is not a suggestion, but an expectation. He encourages us to, "do justice, love goodness, and walk humbly with your God" (Mi. 6:8). Moreover, Jesus is looking for modern-day prophets and prophetesses, like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, [Esther, Deborah] and all the prophets, who are reclining at the table of the Kingdom of God (Lk. 13:28).

"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few" (Luke 10:2). This is not just a statement but a call to action, if you really desire to enter the narrow salvation door. Only those who engage in the harvest will enter through the narrow door. We need more workers and more active participants in Jesus' mission.

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