A reading of the holy Gospel according to Lk 13:22-30
Jesus passed through towns and villages,teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.Someone asked him,"Lord, will only a few people be saved?"He answered them,"Strive to enter through the narrow gate,for many, I tell you, will attempt to enterbut will not be strong enough.After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,then will you stand outside knocking and saying,'Lord, open the door for us.'He will say to you in reply,'I do not know where you are from.'And you will say,'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.'Then he will say to you,'I do not know where you are from.Depart from me, all you evildoers!'And there will be wailing and grinding of teethwhen you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacoband all the prophets in the Kingdom of Godand you yourselves cast out.And people will come from the east and the westand from the north and the southand will recline at table in the Kingdom of God.For behold, some are last who will be first,and some are first who will be last."
REFLECTION
"recline at table in the Kingdom of God."
In Baruch we read, “Had you walked in the way of God, you would have lived in peace forever”.
The first man,
Adam,
became a living soul,
the last Adam
a life-giving spirit.
(St Peter Chrysologus, Bishop)
How beautiful that, He, who made Adam out of clay and in His image, would come down, take the form of man to save His lost ones. And we, though sinful wretches, are reborn and refashioned in the image of our Creator. And so we wear His likeness.
To be in His likeness pursue wisdom, gentleness, kindness, patience, humility and mercy. Follow the commandments, always willing to do His will, and go wherever He wants to take us. He is our Shepherd who waits for us along the narrow road, guiding us, preparing us and watching our move so that we do not falter.
Jesus gave us His priests to shepherd his children. They work hard not to lose any soul for God. They work at times 24/7, preparing homilies, planning pilgrimages, retreats, and hearing confession for long hours. They intercede for us in their prayers and Masses. They show us how to pray and how to read the Bible*. PAPA prays for all priests--those who keep their vocation vows and those who falter.
Do we want to recline at table in the Kingdom of God? For eternity?
Sometimes we need to change our ways. Don't minimize prayer life or become lazy. Always be ready to follow Jesus on that narrow road. Our priests are God's shepherds. Pray that they may keep the promises they made to God, always present to us with those virtues we want for ourselves so that they and their flock would make it to heaven. (PAPA Prayer for Priests)
As they pray for us, may we pray for them.
God bless you
*To learn more about PAPA, look us up at papamio.org. We have weekly bible study via zoom (FACEZBS) led by our spiritual advisor and theologian, Father Michael. You can join us--just let us know through our website.
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