Some of you will remember that George Foreman passed away earlier this year. He was something of a character – a two-time heavyweight champion of the world, Olympic gold medallist, ordained Baptist minister, author and entrepreneur, and probably most famously the inventor of the George Foreman Grill – indeed a man of many talents.
Remarkably, at the age of 45, he reclaimed the heavyweight title, becoming the oldest man ever to do so. But the comeback wasn’t easy. In his book God in My Corner, Foreman recalls how, after nearly a decade out of the sport, he was extremely overweight, so he said, “before I could fight again, I had to get rid of some ‘excess’ George.”
It seems to me that getting rid of some of our ‘excess’ is exactly what Jesus is saying to us in today’s Gospel (Luke 13:22-30) when he speaks of entering by the narrow door. To follow Jesus, to enter the Kingdom, there are things we must let go of. We all carry around “some excess” – excess pride, excess prejudice, excess selfishness, excess reliance on ourselves. The door is narrow not because God wants to keep people out, but because we cannot squeeze through carrying all that extra baggage.
Notice how the Gospel begins! Someone asks Jesus, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” It is the kind of question that comes from comparison, from measuring ourselves against others, perhaps even from some cultural prejudice.
It is the question of someone who thinks in terms of insiders and outsiders, of “us” and “them.” Jesus doesn’t answer with numbers. Instead, he turns the question back on the listener: “Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.”
That is a hard lesson to hear. It reminds us that discipleship is demanding. It is not enough to simply talk about faith or to associate ourselves with Jesus in name only. It is not enough to say, “I go to church, I pray, I was baptized.” These things matter deeply, yet if they remain only outward signs without inner conversion, we risk missing out on the real gift that is being offered.
Our faith is meant to be more than routine or habit. It is a way of life, a daily choice to allow our relationship with Christ to shape who we are; to influence the decisions we make, to grow deeper in our relationship with God, to find healing for past hurts and to live with a sense of freedom and hope, knowing that we are loved for who we are, made in God’s image.
True discipleship means letting our faith guide our actions in every moment, so that our words, our choices, and our presence reflect the love and mercy of God, as we strive to live the kingdom values of compassion, forgiveness, generosity, and humility
Following Christ requires courage and perseverance, a willingness to let him transform not only our habits but our very hearts and desires.
It is so easy to live on the surface, to be shaped by the norms and distractions of society – to measure success by possessions, status, and popularity; to be seduced by the allure of earning a little more, climbing a little higher, or enjoying a little extra comfort, with the promise of happiness to follow.
Yet those promises fade quickly. Jesus invites us to something lasting, something deeper. The narrow door is not about restriction; it is about focus. Choosing the way of Christ means refusing to settle for empty promises and opening ourselves fully to the abundant life that God desires for us.
The vision of God’s Kingdom is far greater than our own imagination. It is not limited to one group, one tradition, or one way of life. It is not the privilege of the powerful or the reward of the successful. It is a banquet open to all, a family table where strangers are welcomed and those long excluded find a place of honour.
The Lord’s challenge today is both personal and communal. Personally, each of us must ask: what is the “excess” in my life? What baggage keeps me from following Christ with freedom and joy?
What do I need to let go of? Is it resentment that clings to old wounds, fear that keeps me from stepping out in faith, or pride that refuses to let God lead? Whatever it is, Christ invites us to lay it down so that we may enter with lighter hearts.
As a community, we must also reflect on whether we show the breadth of God’s Kingdom in our welcome. Do we make room for the outsider, the poor, the overlooked, those who search for meaning but feel unsure of their place in church?
The Kingdom grows wherever barriers fall, wherever compassion is shown, and wherever the love of Christ is made visible in our words and deeds.
The narrow door may look daunting, but it is not meant to discourage us. It is meant to sharpen our focus and call us to what matters most. The door is narrow, yes—but it opens into the vastness of God’s mercy, wide enough for every person who comes with a humble, trusting, and loving heart.
So today, as we gather here, what do these scriptures ask of us today? What excess do we need to let go of? What changes do we need to make in our lives? And are we willing to trust that Lord will guide us on that path, strengthen us on that journey and strengthen us to become the people that God desires us to be?