Stranger

“I do not know where you come from.” (Luke 13:25).

Christ Washing Peter's Feet (Fra Angelico)

When I was a little girl, I was told by my mother that I was never to speak to strangers.

Back in those days it was an easier rule to enforce, because I was only able to see strangers physically in front of me.  I have always enforced the same rule with my children.  However, these days with the added complexity of the internet, it has become much more difficult to enforce these rules.  After all, strangers can approach our children physically (as they used to be able to do) but also via, email, social media, phones and text and a variety of other ways that I am probably not even aware of.

Having said that, it is still critically important to reinforce the rules about the danger of speaking with strangers.  Most importantly for this there must be constant communication between my children and me.  Without that constant communication it would be impossible for me to keep my children safe.

I have been thinking of this as I have been reflecting on the Gospel, where Christ refers to the strangers…

“Someone said to Jesus, ‘Lord, will those who are saved be few?’ And He said to them, ‘Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us.’ He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!’ There you will weep and gnash your teeth.” (Luke 13:22-30).

You see, Christ opens the doors to the Kingdom to His friends.  If I am a stranger to Him on Earth then I shall remain a stranger to Him in Heaven…  And God wants to be my friend.  He goes out of His way to make sure I have ample opportunity to know Him, in fact.  He befriends me through the Sacraments, through the Sacred Scriptures, through Prayer, through the Angels and the Saints (who are mutual friends of ours).  And I spend my time trying to ignore Him.  Filling my day with other amusements that result in my lack of development and faith in the presence of my Blessed Lord.

And I have been thinking about that today, for it seems to me that when the time comes to “enter by the narrow gate” I shall be such a stranger to my Beloved that He shall say to me, “I do not know where you come from.” (Luke 13:25).  And that shall be the greatest tragedy of all the world.

So, I pray for the Grace to befriend my God.  For it is only through His friendship that I shall merit Heaven…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.