FIRST READING
Ephesians 6:1-9
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother. This is the first commandment with a promise, that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on earth. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord.
Slaves, be obedient to your human masters with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ, not only when being watched, as currying favor, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, willingly serving the Lord and not men, knowing that each will be requited from the Lord for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. Masters, act in the same way towards them, and stop bullying, knowing that both they and you have a Master in heaven and that with him there is no partiality.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 145:10-11, 12-13ab, 13cd-14
R. (13c) The Lord is faithful in all his words.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom and speak of your might.
R. The Lord is faithful in all his words.
Making known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom. Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. The Lord is faithful in all his words.
The LORD is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works. The LORD lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. The Lord is faithful in all his words.
ALLELUIA
See 2 Thessalonians 2:14
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God has called us through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Luke 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 enter but 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 teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and 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.”
REFLECTIONS:
What does the image of a door say to us about the
kingdom of God? Jesus' story about the door being shut to those who come
too late suggests they had offended their host and deserved to be excluded.
It was customary for teachers in Jesus' time to close the door on tardy
students and not allow them back for a whole week in order to teach them
a lesson in discipline and faithfulness. Jesus told this story in response
to the question of who will make it to heaven. Many rabbis held that all
Israel would be saved, except for a few blatant sinners who excluded themselves!
After all, they were specially chosen by God when he established a covenant
with them.
Jesus doesn't directly answer the question, however; but his response
is nonetheless unsettling on two counts. First, Jesus surprised his listeners
by saying that one's membership as a covenanted people does not automatically
mean entry into the kingdom of God. Second, Jesus asserts that many from
the gentile nations would enter God's kingdom. God's invitation is open
to Jew and Gentile alike. But Jesus warns that we can be excluded if we
do not strive to enter by the narrow door. What did Jesus
mean by this expression? The door which Jesus had in mind was himself.
I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved (John 10:9).
Jesus opens the way for us to enter into God's kingdom through the cross
where he has laid down his life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. If
we want to enter and remain citizens of God's kingdom, then we must follow
Jesus in the way of the cross. The word strive
can also be translated
agony.
To enter the kingdom of God one must struggle against the forces of temptation
to sin and whatever would hinder us from doing the will of God (even apathy,
indifference, and compromise).
The good news is that we do not struggle alone. God is with us and his
grace is sufficient! As we strive side by side for the faith of
the gospel (Philippians 1:27) Jesus assures us of complete victory!
Do you trust in God's grace and help, especially in times of testing and
temptation?
"Lord Jesus, help me to always trust in your saving grace, especially
when I am tempted and put to the test. Help me to be faithful to you and
give me the courage and strength to resist temptation, especially the temptation
to compromise or to be indifferent to your word."
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