The narrow door

A story is told about a good and devout Catholic barangay chairman who died and off he went to the next life.

- FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD

In the afterlife, one either goes to the top floor called "heaven" where the righteous get their reward of eternal bliss. Those who have venial sins go to the second floor called "purgatory," and the damned are herded to the fiery basement that’s “hell.”

Now the barangay chairman arrived at the second floor (purgatory). As he roamed about his new home, to his surprise he met his former parish priest.

"Father, I didn't expect you to be here," the excited parishioner blurted. "Why aren't you up there?" pointing to heaven.

"'Ssshhhh, quiet, brod; on my way here I met our mayor down below us!" said the priest pointing to the basement.”

This is an amusing story but it somehow illustrates Christ's teaching in this Sunday’s gospel that "there are those last now who will be first, and first now who will be last" (Lk 13,30).