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S. Pentecost 11.25 Is. 66: 18-24, Luke 13:22-30

But he will say: ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil…’

Genuine Xnity isn’t at all what most people think it is—certainly not what the modern missional institutional church would like you to think it is. Today’s readings reveal some surprising truths about the Kingdom of God that modern Christendom prefers to conceal…

First off, the human population of heaven is quite small—the right crowd and no crowding! This is the question Jesus is asked to start our Gospel reading today, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” He already answered this question long before this episode in his early sermon (that one on the mount) where he says:

“Enter through the narrow gate, since wide is the gate and broad the road leading away into the destruction, and many are those entering through it, since narrow the gate and hard-pressing the road leading away into the Life and few are those finding it.”

Now why would they be asking Jesus if those who are saved are few? Well; after last week’s where he said he didn’t come to bring peace on earth, but fire and division and warning that unless everyone has a massive change of mind/heart we will all perish Jesus continued saying that the Kingdom is like a man with a barren fruit tree that he wants to cut down, but the servant begs him to let him dig around and dung it and see if that shtuff helps at all? 😉

He’ went on to say the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed—very tiny!—and even when it’s grown, it’s just a big bush in the garden, not a tree at all, but the birds will nest in its shade, since the Kingdom of Heaven is also like a pinch of yeast that’s put into three measures of wheat, that spreads through the whole loaf—but is a very TINY part of it!

It makes sense—if you were listening to what Jesus actually said—that you would ask: “So you’re saying that those who are saved, those who will enter the Kingdom of Heaven are few and far between?

Yep! Now you’re getting IT! Of course, the modern mission-driven institutional church execs do not like the news that Xns are a tiny little band always on the run from Zombie-land, seeking escape. Because they fear that won’t sell! They’d rather have a LARGE CHURCH filled with Zombies, than a small, embattled one clinging to Jesus for dear life. 🙁

Truth is, as Jesus says: the door to Heaven’s a tight squeeze—for many (Jesus tells us!) will seek to enter and will not be able.

I’m always telling you that the scriptures are clear that anyone who really wants to be with Jesus in Heaven WILL BE THERE!, that hell is simply God saying “Have it your way!” and the door there is locked from the inside. At first glance, this passage might seem to suggest otherwise, but it really doesn’t…

Simply put, the ones of whom Jesus speaks today—who’re trying to enter the narrow door of Heaven—can’t squeeze through because they don’t want to enter to be with Jesus but only to devour his small little flock who actually do love and adore him. And if Jesus did let them in, they would find him a burning fire that would destroy them instantly and completely.

Because… they are Zombies!, the actual Walking Dead. Jesus’ teaching paints us a picture Heaven as a fortress city on a high mountain looking over Zombie-land below. The picture Jesus paints is really a combo of two of my favorite films: “I Am Legend”, the excellent Will Smith Zombie film, and “World War Z” with Brad Pitt. I think I’ve kind of combined them in my mind, but each feature one person, or small group of people, in a world overrun by flesh-eating Zombies who would turn the whole world Zombie.

It may help you grasp our Gospel today to realize the ones “Knock, Knock, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” are… Zombies who want to get in, not to sit at Jesus feet and adore him, but to eat all his lambs, brains first, but bones and all, eventually—which I would argue is much closer to Dylan’s ’73 original “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”, which basically says those who live by the sword will die by the sword because they’re Zombies, one and all, to whom Heaven’s Door is closed for their own protection, really. And, finally, they’ll lock the door from their side too.

Another surprising truth we learn about Heaven in our OT lesson (that the lectionary editors tried to hid by omitting the last verse which I threw in for you, you’re welcome!) is that it has a specular view of Hell(!) where the Remnant can always watch the Zombies in the lake of fire fleeing the flesh eating worm. Again, Jesus, in his mercy won’t destroy the Zombies, but gives them something to keep them occupied: fleeing the flesh eating worm is as much fun as Zombies can have, I would say, and watching the spectacle is by no means unpleasant for the Few who say Yea! and Amen! to all God’s judgments… 😉

If you want to catch up with me in heaven, I’d start by looking at the Lake of Fire Overlook just outside the Heavenly Temple 😉

The other surprising thing in our Gospel is that Jesus says he doesn’t know the Zombies. He’s omniscient, right? Yes!, but he can unsee, un-know as he pleases…. 😉 A super-power I covet!

Which leads to another thing the modern institutional church is hiding from you—that is, the Real Purpose of the Lord’s Supper. They hide it by purposely mistranslating the Greek words of institution. Jesus doesn’t say: “do this in remembrance of me,” but “do this into my remembering.” His body and blood are put into us as markers so he will remember us. If you want Jesus to remember you, this is the Way!

There is a delightful irony here. Since, as sinners, we’re all really Zombies, eager to feed on human flesh, Jesus lures us into Life by giving us his own most holy body to feed on—which, in the eating of Faith, begins to transform us into his Image… 😉

So; when you come to his Table now—eating his body, drinking his blood—it not only marks you as one Redeemed by Christ the Crucified, it makes you one body with Jesus, a new body, a new Adam, as Christ begins your transformation at his Font and Table from Walking Dead into Living Xn whom he will never forget!

I hope and pray this gives you as much joy as it does me! Seriously though, what’s not to like about being a little Xn Commando Squad, hiding in plain sight, dodging the Zombies in rather cinematic and exciting ways? Real Xnity is never dull, always an adventure!—with the Gospel and Sacraments as our sword and shield, and the Peace that surpasses all understanding guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.