First reading Ephesians 6:1-9
Duties in domestic life
Children, be obedient to your parents in the Lord – that is your duty. The commandment that has a promise attached to it is: Honour your father and mother, and the promise is: and you will prosper and have a long life in the land. And parents, never drive your children to resentment but in bringing them up correct them and guide them as the Lord does.
Slaves, be obedient to the men who are called your masters in this world, with deep respect and sincere loyalty, as you are obedient to Christ: not only when you are under their eye, as if you had only to please men, but because you are slaves of Christ and wholeheartedly do the will of God. Work hard and willingly, but do it for the sake of the Lord and not for the sake of men. You can be sure that everyone, whether a slave or a free man, will be properly rewarded by the Lord for whatever work he has done well. And those of you who are employers, treat your slaves in the same spirit; do without threats, remembering that they and you have the same Master in heaven and he is not impressed by one person more than by another.
Responsorial Psalm 144(145):10-14
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.
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.
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.
The Lord is faithful in all his words.
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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The narrow door
Among those who followed Jesus, a man asked him, “Sir, will only a few be saved?”. Jesus did not answer the question; instead, He invited everyone to enter through the narrow gate. Everybody can enter the fullness of life, but they must walk the narrow path. The way of Jesus leads us to happiness, not only at the end of our lives, but also in the present moment when we live out the Beatitudes, which represent Jesus’ life plan. However, we recognize that following His path requires effort and sacrifice.
Living the Christian way is not just about following rules to earn God’s favour. It requires loving Him with all our mind, heart, and strength, as well as loving our neighbour in the same way (Cf. Luke 10:27). Love is about giving of oneself; it means putting others’ interests before our own and helping them to grow. Jesus invites us to follow Him in the way He loves so that, by loving others, we will already be experiencing His salvation.
Reflective question:
Do I choose to follow Jesus’ ways in my daily life?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
