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Choosing the Narrow Door: Standing Up for the Marginalized
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Let’s be honest—standing up for the marginalized isn’t a glamorous calling. It’s rarely comfortable. Sometimes it’s awkward, even painful, like trying to squeeze through a narrow door while carrying a suitcase full of privilege and bias you didn’t realize you packed. But the lectionary readings—Isaiah 66:18–21, Hebrews 12:5–7, 11–13, and Luke 13:22–30—won’t let us off the hook. They combine to form a steady drumbeat, calling us to look beyond ourselves, push through resistance, and show up for those most easily ignored.
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Isaiah paints this wild, inclusive vision: “I am coming to gather all nations and tongues.” Not just the people who look, act, or believe like us. Everyone. Even those we’ve written off, those whose stories we’ve never heard. God’s heart beats for the outsider; God gathers people from the fringes and sends them out as witnesses of hope. The marginalized aren’t just included—they’re sent as ambassadors.
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Then Hebrews comes in and reminds us, “Don’t shrug off God’s discipline.” (If you’ve ever tried standing up for the overlooked, you know: it’s not easy. People might misunderstand you, or outright oppose you.) It’s tempting to give up, to slide back into comfort. But Hebrews says the hard stuff—the resistance, the discomfort—is a sign we’re growing. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.” And yet, it “produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.” Walking alongside the marginalized isn’t about being a savior. It’s about letting ourselves be changed and becoming more like Jesus—who, let’s not forget, was constantly hanging out with those on the edges.
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And then there’s Luke’s “narrow door.” Jesus says, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” I’ve always pictured this as a challenge, not just to squeeze ourselves in, but to try to make room for others—especially those society would rather leave outside. The narrow door isn’t just about me and my faith journey. It’s about who I’m willing to stand beside, even when it costs me something.
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Maybe standing up for the marginalized means listening—really listening—to stories I don’t understand. Maybe it means using my voice and privilege to amplify someone else’s. Maybe it means calling out injustice, even when it’s unpopular. Maybe it requires discipline: the discipline to keep showing up, to let my heart be broken open, to choose the narrow door every day.
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God’s vision is so much bigger than my comfort zone. If Isaiah’s right, the people I least expect might become the very ones teaching me about God’s love. If Hebrews is right, pushing through what’s hard grows us up into peace. And if Luke is right, the narrow door is open—but it takes humility and courage to walk through it, especially if we’re determined not to go alone.
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So today, let’s try to walk that way. Let’s stand up, reach out, and make space at the table, believing that God’s invitation is for everyone—especially those who’ve spent too long on the outside looking in.
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Join us every Sunday at 3:00 PM at 557 Greene Street in Augusta Georgia in the sanctuary of the MCC of Our Redeemer.
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August 24, 2025: Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Mass Intention: For the growth of our parish family.
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August 31, 2025: Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Mass Intention: For to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
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For the St. George family; Fr. Bryan Wolf; Mary Nehls; for Kelesh’s daughter; James (Cancer); Linda (Cancer); Jacob (Cancer); James Long (Cancer); Mickey; Jacob Williams; Kelesh and family; Lindsay; Sherlock Bones; Tatum Johnson (Job); Brittney (Cancer); Jennifer (DV Survivor, Homeless); Bishop James Long; David; John; Joy; Greenbear; Bishop Ben and Darlene Williams; Ryn Ingells; growth for our parish family; all those in the path of the wildfires and severe weather, end of hostilities in Ukraine and the Middle East; for an end to gun violence.
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Can't make it to Mass?
You can still join us virtually, you can by using any of the following outlets:
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Support our Parish!
We are in desperate need to financial support to keep our parish going. We are working to raise $500 to pay our liability insurance. We need these funds by immediately! Please donate today using the following links or QR Codes:
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Venmo: @saintfrancisparish
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CashApp: $saintfrancisparish
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Joint Fellowship Opportunities
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Bishop Greer will be participating in the Interfaith Service for Healing of the Mind and Spirit! Hope you will come out to join us!
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Parish Bible Study
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Our Parish Outreaches
Human First Outreach
This ministry focuses on providing food and toiletry supplies to the homeless in the Augusta, Georgia area. We provide feminine hygiene products to those that need them and food for the pets of our homeless friends and family.
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We are working to bring a human touch to this ministry as we encourage volunteers to engage with the individuals we are helping in a compassionate and loving way. We expect all volunteers to refrain from proselytizing and preaching to those we serve. Instead, take a hint from Hamilton “talk less, listen more”.
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If you would like to donate to this important ministry, you can visit our Amazon wishlist and purchase items to be sent directly to us.
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Reclaiming the Cross Outreach
Check out our newest outreach in which we work to set the record straight on what the Bible says about many of the issues facing our society today!
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Reclaiming the Cross is an outreach of our parish headed up by Subdeacon Luna Godsey.
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Podcast Outreach
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Sunday Selfies
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Don't forget to take your Sunday Selfie and send them to us! You can email them to us at info@oursaintfrancis.org or tag us on Facebook using #saintfrancisparish and #sundayselfie.
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Our Parish goes social...
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