Wednesday – 30th Week of Ordinary Time B

Published on 29 October 2024 at 13:04

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the readings of today’s Holy Mass invite us to reflect deeply on our journey toward heaven and the true meaning of striving to enter through the narrow gate, as Jesus teaches us in the Gospel of Luke. It’s a powerful message that challenges us to take our faith seriously and to understand the effort and commitment it requires to walk the path of righteousness.

In the Gospel, Jesus himself is telling us to "strive to enter through the narrow gate." This imagery evokes the demanding but rewarding nature of what it means to follow Him. The gate is not wide; it is narrow, signifying that the path to eternal life requires intention, sacrifice, and perseverance. It’s not quite as easy as a lot of people tell you it can be. Jesus warns that many will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. This calls us to consider what it means to be strong enough. Strength does not simply come from ourselves; it comes from Christ and is fortified by the practices of our faith, the community we build, and the love we express in our daily lives.

We read in the letter to the Ephesians about the various relationships in our lives—familial, social, and even professional. Paul encourages children to obey their parents and gives guidance to fathers on raising their children in the Lord. He also instructs slaves to be obedient to their masters, not out of fear, but as an act of service to Christ. What we see here is the call to honour God in every aspect of our lives, including our interactions with one another.

To strive to enter through the narrow gate, we must cultivate virtue in our daily lives. Too often in today’s society we are inundated with the language of rights, as opposed to the language of virtue. It’s not about what I should be doing, but about what I should be getting. A path to holiness needs to focus on the former, and the gift Christ offers us in an eternal beatitude with Him, the Father, the Holy Spirit, our Blessed Mother and all the angels and saints, comes through a well-lived life of virtue as a response to the infinite sacrifice of the Cross, where He shed his blood for us so as to “give us the key to open the gates of heaven” once locked and impenetrable due to sin, for nothing with the least taint of sin can enter the all-holy presence of God. Not one person without the royal white vestment will be allowed in, as Christ metaphorically describes in one of his parables. This means honoring our parents and caregivers, respecting those in authority, and treating every person we encounter with dignity and kindness—as if we are serving Christ Himself. The way we live our lives on earth can reflect our openness to God’s grace and our readiness for His kingdom.

In our commitment to live according to these principles, we are given tools by the Church—sacraments, community, prayer, and the teachings of Christ. The sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Confession, nourish our souls and strengthen us for the journey. They help us recognize our need for grace and the mercy that God abundantly offers us. Community is vital, too; we are not meant to walk this narrow path alone. We need one another's support, encouragement, and, at times, correction. This is why fellowship in the Church is essential, as we gather to worship, to learn, and to serve together so that we can secure our path to heaven. We learn to live saintly lives here, so that we can live as saints with the other “spirits of the just made perfect,” as Saint Paul puts it, there.

Moreover, prayer is our lifeline to God; it’s how we cultivate a relationship with Him. Through prayer, we seek guidance and strength to navigate the challenges and temptations we face. Each day presents us with opportunities to lean into our faith and seek the Holy Spirit's assistance in living out the call to holiness. Add to this a healthy and pure fasting, and by pure I mean… for the right reasons (for let’s not call a diet, a fast) but if we pray and reinforce our prayer with fasting, Christ said this is the only way certain evils can be eliminated. It is no wonder that in almost every apparition of our Blessed Mother, she calls us to remember alongside the necessity of prayer, the importance of fasting as our Lord taught us.

Brothers and sisters, let’s not forget the urgency of this call to strive. Christ’s words remind us that the time to enter the narrow gate is now. We cannot afford to delay. We must examine our hearts, confront any complacency, and turn toward the path of holiness—drawing from the well of grace that the Church offers. A priest is waiting to hear your confession, to give you good guidance, and to extend to you God’s mercy through the prayer of absolution. Listen to his counsel, and through sacramental confession, receive the gift of now being able to continue praying with a clean conscience. This is the kind of power God wishes for you. We sometimes lay too much emphasis on the power of evil, but goodness, purity and holiness, have greater power than any evil that can assail us.

As we move through our day-to-day lives, we must always ask ourselves: Are we truly striving? Are we putting forth the effort to live as Christ has called us? Are we responding to the love and grace offered to us, or are we taking him and his daily gifts for granted? For each day is a gift—an opportunity to deepen our walk of faith.

May the Lord continue to bless you as you strive to enter through the narrow gate. Courage. Do not be afraid. The Lord is at your side. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Go in peace serving and thanking God through your life. Amen.


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