FIRST READING
A reading front the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans (Romans 8:26-30)
“In everything God works for good with those who love him.”
Brethren: The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 13:4-5.6-7 (R.)
R/. I trust in your merciful love, O Lord.
Look, answer me, Lord my God!
Give light to my eyes lest I fall asleep in death;
lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him;”
lest my foes rejoice when they see me fall. R.
As for me, I trust in your merciful love.
Let my heart rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord who has been bountiful with me
I will sing psalms to the name of the Lord Most High. R
ALLELUIA 2 Thessalonians 2:14
Alleluia. God has called us through the Gospel, to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 13:22-30)
“Men will come from east and west, and sit at table in the kingdom of God ”
At that time: Jesus went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. And some one said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us.’ “He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from’ “Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ “But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!’ There you will weep and gnash your teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. And men will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
Will only a few be saved? The man was interested in discussing salvation, whereas Jesus was interested in his soul. Rather than discussing the number to be saved, he ought to have been concerned if he would be part of that number. Hence Jesus exhorts him to strive to enter by the narrow door rather than engage in mere discussion. It is what we do that will count in the end, and not what we discuss. We will be judged, not according to the insight of our theology, but according to the depth of our charity. The Lord will identify us on the last day by our good deeds and not just by our fine talk or big degrees.