First reading Isaiah 66:18-21
They will bring all your brothers from all the nations
The Lord says this: I am coming to gather the nations of every language. They shall come to witness my glory. I will give them a sign and send some of their survivors to the nations: to Tarshish, Put, Lud, Moshech, Rosh, Tubal, and Javan, to the distant islands that have never heard of me or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory to the nations. As an offering to the Lord they will bring all your brothers, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules, on dromedaries, from all the nations to my holy mountain in Jerusalem, says the Lord, like Israelites bringing oblations in clean vessels to the Temple of the Lord. And of some of them I will make priests and Levites, says the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm 116(117)
Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.
or
Alleluia!
O praise the Lord, all you nations,
acclaim him all you peoples!
Strong is his love for us;
he is faithful for ever.
Second reading Hebrews 12:5-7,11-13
The Lord trains the one he loves
Have you forgotten that encouraging text in which you are addressed as sons? My son, when the Lord corrects you, do not treat it lightly; but do not get discouraged when he reprimands you. For the Lord trains the ones that he loves and he punishes all those that he acknowledges as his sons. Suffering is part of your training; God is treating you as his sons. Has there ever been any son whose father did not train him? Of course, any punishment is most painful at the time, and far from pleasant; but later, in those on whom it has been used, it bears fruit in peace and goodness. So hold up your limp arms and steady your trembling knees and smooth out the path you tread; then the injured limb will not be wrenched, it will grow strong again.
Gospel Luke 13:22-30
The last shall be first and the first last
Through towns and villages Jesus went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem. Someone said to him, ‘Sir, will there be only a few saved?’ He said to them, ‘Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.
‘Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself knocking on the door, saying, “Lord, open to us” but he will answer, “I do not know where you come from.” Then you will find yourself saying, “We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets” but he will reply, “I do not know where you come from. Away from me, all you wicked men!”
‘Then there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves turned outside. And men from east and west, from north and south, will come to take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.
‘Yes, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.’
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Enter by the narrow door
In today’s gospel, a person came up to Jesus and asked Him, “Sir, will there be only a few saved?”. This person was obsessed with how many would be saved in the next life. Rather than providing a straightforward answer, Jesus chose to shift the focus away from the abstract question of how many would be saved. Instead, He emphasised that what truly matters is how we conduct our lives in the present moment- with love, compassion and integrity. It is our actions and words here and now that should be our primary concern.
Therefore, Jesus said, “Try your best to enter by the narrow door…” We need to make a conscious effort to live out our faith by following the same path as Jesus, living according to His values, and loving as He loves. Although Jesus calls us to strive to go through the narrow door, we can trust that He will help us in our efforts. He is not a distant God who scrutinises us from afar; rather, He is with us, guiding and empowering us as we live each day as His faithful disciples.
Reflective question:
How can I consciously enter through the narrow door by living a life that reflects Jesus’ values and ways?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
