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Today's Gospel highlights the importance of consistency and faithfulness, even in the small things. I find Jesus’ teaching about serving two masters particularly thought-provoking. Often, it feels like we have more than two masters competing for our time and energy. From my perspective, many people drift away from their faith not out of rejection of God, but because other responsibilities and distractions take priority. Family, career, and community are just a few of the demands that require our attention. While dedicating ourselves to these is certainly valuable, there are additional aspects of our lives that also deserve careful consideration.

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Today’s Gospel from John focusses on a conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus. To give you some important background information, Nicodemus was a Pharisee. Scripture scholars remind us that despite the negative portrayal of Pharisees in the Gospels not all the Pharisees were against Jesus. Yes, there was a small group that were against Jesus and looked for every opportunity to discredit him. But, there were a few like Nicodemus who were drawn to Jesus’s message and wanted to understand his ministry. Of course, there was likely a larger group who were quite indifferent to Jesus and his message. One of the points I am trying to make is that Nicodemus was different from the usual followers of Jesus. He was well educated in Jewish law and was dedicated to grow in his faith. Jesus challenges Nicodemus in a very different way.

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For someone not familiar with Jesus’ style of teaching this Gospel would be shocking. I suspect the Gospel would be shocking for the first listeners. It completely contradicts the 5th commandment about honouring one’s parents Exodus 20:12. While there are no actual scriptural references from Jesus there are Gospel references of Jesus showing love to his parents. In Luke 2:48-51, Jesus as a boy shows respect and honour to Mary and Joseph, his earthly parents by returning to them after being found in the temple and submitting to their authority. In John 19:26-27, from the cross, Jesus shows care and concern for his mother by entrusting her to the disciple John, demonstrating his protective love.

We have talked about this style of teaching before.

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Today’s Gospel begins with Jesus accepting an invitation to dine with one of the leading Pharisees. During this gathering, Jesus shares a teaching inspired by His observations that challenges the conventional understanding of social status. He emphasizes a reversal of worldly status through humility. But what exactly did Jesus mean by humility?

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Luke’s Gospel is very typical of Jesus style. We have read events where Jesus takes an accepted view, custom, or perception and reinterprets into something different. Often when Jesus is asked a question, he invites the questioner into a deeper meaning. What exactly did Jesus mean when he talks about the narrow gate. Let’s look further. Jesus asks if many will be saved. Likely behind that question is the more personal question, Will I be saved? The question is a result of the individual’s uncertainty and maybe a bit of fear. Unfortunately for many, the cornerstone of their faith is rooted in fear that they will be judged as not meeting to what they perceive as God’s demanding and arbitrary standards. No wonder they find loving God difficult or their relationship with Him irrelevant.

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This passage might seem surprising—even unsettling. Here, we don’t see the serene, peaceful Jesus, but instead a passionate figure intensely devoted to his mission and faith. I believe Jesus is speaking metaphorically when he refers to fire—using it to symbolize the fervor and intensity he expects in our faith lives. He was not passionate about a lukewarm faith. In Revelation 3:14-16, Jesus rebukes the church in Laodicea precisely for their half-hearted devotion.

Jesus knew faith wasn’t always going to bring peace. History is full of conflicts between religious groups, and even today, faith can stir up internal struggles as we grapple with conscience and the demands of modern life. Jesus even warns of conflict within families—something that, sadly, many of us know: religious convictions can unite, but also divide families. Feeling unsupported by loved ones can be especially painful.

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In this Gospel we learn that the Father is pleased to give you the kingdom, this is incredible! The kingdom is given, not earned but a free gift. This is not the only such reference, in Luke 13:29 we read that "people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God,". Jesus says this before his death and resurrection. God knows that love cannot be forced nor develop in fear. This is the Good News!

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We have someone asking Jesus to help settle his case, to judge the merits of an inheritance dispute. Jesus does not take the bait and makes it clear to the individual that he is not here to judge. This is a valuable reminder to people who so often see God as one who judges and punishes. Jesus is very clear about his role.

Jesus tells a parable of a man with a bountiful harvest who decides to store his grain and live well for a few years. No one can blame him for wanting to take it easy. He is given an opportunity, and he takes it, what then is the issue? Actually, there are several issues.