Today an anxious voice from the crowd asks Jesus: "Lord, will only a few be saved?" (Lk 13: 22) This question still has resonance for many people today even though it seems that many people are indifferent to the salvation of their souls. You just need to watch some ot the tele-evangelists to see that. The horrible possibility of eternal damnation, considering the awesome holiness of God in comparison to our own sin, makes it seem likely that we will not enjoy the Beatific Vision. Interestingly, Jesus does not give a direct answer or a number. His response is to encourage us to strive for holiness and never give up: "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and not be able." (Lk 13: 24) Living in accord with God's commandment of love is not easy. It is the case that we should not always look for the easy way out of our obligations or depend on others faith or prayers. God our Father has children; he does not have grandchildren! We need to come to faith; we need to pray; we need to go to Mass on Sunday; we need to give alms and act with mercy towards others. Our complacency or presumption, simply because we have encountered the Gospel, will not help us: "Then you wil begin to say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' But the Lord will say, 'I do not know where you come from; go away from me all you evildoers!' " (Lk 13: 26-27) We need to make a personal faith response, however, we can do so trusting that God wills that everybody be saved: "(God) who desires everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim. 2: 3-4) The default setting of the Universe is salvation. This is because it is the will of the God who created it in the first place.
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