In the gospel today, Jesus is addressing the law-abiding Jews who strictly observed the law. Yet, He was being quite offensive both on a personal level and on the level of the establishment. He took the risk because nobody, no institution could ever claim exclusivity where God is concerned. For a long time, a believer was normally a church-goer, someone who basically adhered to the rules of the club. Today's parable makes us ask whether it makes sense to bank on some sort of membership of people who inwardly are not there. According to St Augustine, there are many outside who seem to be inside, and there are many inside who seem to be outside. Belonging to God's kingdom is not the same as belonging to the people, culture or religion. Jesus is setting different standards for belonging, and different criteria for authentic belief. The truth Jesus wanted to convey to his times, and which is still so relevant to our times is about the borderline between belief and unbelief, or what constitutes one a believer and another a non-believer. Insiders who may feel a sense of identification with the institution to the point of defending it even against legitimate criticism, and outsiders who air their fears of abondonment and betrayal are both missing the point. As believers, what mostly counts today is not to what institution you belong, but rather what solid ground you have under your feet. The Christian of the future would either be a mystic or no christian at all; there can be no half-baked christians. The sure points of reference our culture used to provide, today are no more. They can only mature in us inwardly through personal experience. Grace is always abunduntly available for those who truly desire it.
