Tuesday of Passion Week reading

1 Thessalonians 2:13-17
And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that,in receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe. For you, brothers, have become imitators of the churches of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you suffer the same things from your compatriots as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us; they do not please God, and are opposed to everyone, trying to prevent us from speaking to the Gentiles that they may be saved, thus constantly filling up the measure of their sins. But the wrath of God has finally begun to come upon them. Brothers, when we were bereft of you for a short time, in person, not in heart, we were all the more eager in our great desire to see you in person. Praise be to God always.
Luke 13:22-30
He passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where (you) are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” This is the Truth. Peace be with you.

“Strive to enter through the narrow gate.” Should one be afraid when reading this? Only if one is not striving to enter through the narrow gate. Yet, one should also remember the broad and deep love of God. God loves us and wants us to come to Him, but He wants us to come to Him freely and as fully as we can, through striving to enter through the narrow gate. It is not enough to go through external actions apart from faith, but neither is it enough to claim faith apart from external actions. If we wish to enter we must not be evil doers, but doers of good. We must not be proud, but humble.