Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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.”
Everything demands effort
1. The narrow path. You are shaped in life by limits. Those boundaries your mom or dad set for you when you were young—knowing there are “yesses” and “noes”, and understanding that you build your life with both your successes and your failures. But there comes a point in your own life when only you make the decisions, when you take responsibility for your own life, and you feel the weight of the choices you make. This is also part of life. The “narrow path” implies effort. It’s about taking on what you’ve decided or committed to. It’s about recognizing both your mistakes and your strengths, without blaming anyone for what happens to you, because you, and only you, are the main character of your life. I know there are tough moments; I experience them, too. There are even times when you and I feel like giving up on everything but remember there’s a harvest, a reward that everyone will enjoy. Keep going until the end; don’t stop halfway.
2. “I don’t know where you’re from.” Sometimes, we restrict life or religion to just morals or certain rules, but it’s much more than that. We sometimes think we’re superior because we belong to a certain group or parish, or because we’re a manager, or a boss, or whatever. Life is a continuous struggle, a day-by-day effort; a new day brings a new fight. Don’t give up, and don’t fall asleep at the wheel. It’s your life, and it can change at any moment.
3. They will come. Everyone is searching for happiness. Today, God reminds you that what you have is enough to be happy, but of course, it’s like a puzzle. You need to know how to arrange the things in your life to understand when and where to use them, and also how to find them. You must be aware that you are fortunate because what you’re looking for outside is actually deep inside you. You have everything, but sometimes you believe you have nothing. Keep fighting, because your own life needs you.
Remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
