Thirty-Third Wednesday in Ordinary Time

Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full. My steps have been steadfast in your paths, my feet have not faltered. I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my word.

The pathways to Heaven may be narrow and fraught with peril, but they lead to glory and joy. This is why we must strive to be steadfast in the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Together they lead us to where we need to be as Christians and servants of God. They keep us from straying from the path and falling into the pits and traps that lay just off the edge of the trail. Our enemies wait for us to misstep and sin so they might attack us and drag us away to our own destruction. However, God is always listening and His Word will guide and protect us if we let it. Then, we shall know true happiness, which only comes from imitating God and magnifying His Holy Spirit within us.

Are we willing to turn our back on the wide road of destruction and instead follow the narrower road to salvation? How can we live in accordance with God’s Will? What can we do to imitate and magnify our Heavenly Father?

O Lord, help us to be steadfast in your paths.

Amen.

Twentieth Friday of Ordinary Time

Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye, but Ruth stayed with her. Naomi said, "See now! Your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her god. Go back after your sister-in-law!" But Ruth said, "Do not ask me to abandon or forsake you! For wherever you go, I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God my God."

Love is a powerful force. It can hold us together even in the midst of trials and tribulations. It can lead us to leave everything we know and follow the path it sets for us. Love is willing to sacrifice itself for its loved ones. If we want to become good and faithful servants of God, then we need to cultivate the virtue of love and abandon our attachments to worldly things. If we do this, then we will discover that our hearts will lead us to the Lord and we shall be with His people and He shall be our God in spirit and truth.

What are we doing in our faith lives to grow in love? Are we willing to detach ourselves from all worldly things? Where is God asking us to go?

O Lord, wherever you go, we will follow.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs

He remained for two full years in his lodgings. He received all who came to him, and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

After coming to Rome, Paul continues his mission to proclaim the Good News and teach others about Jesus Christ. He doesn't let his house arrest stop him from doing God's Will. He could have grown anxious at being denied his freedom for two years. He could have wondered why he was being put through such a trial. He could've turned bitter and denied others a chance to learn about Jesus. But he understood that walking the path God had prepared for him was the greatest freedom there is. He knew that the trials he was facing were ones that would lead him and others closer to God. He chose to walk the narrow path to Heaven no matter that cost.

How can we be as courageous as Paul in our mission of proclaiming the Good News? Are we willing to choose the true freedom of following Jesus over the false freedom of choosing ourselves above all? Do we pray to God for the strength to walk the narrow path to Heaven over the wide road to Hell?

O Lord, make us courageous in following the path you have prepared for us.

Amen.

Fourth Sunday of Easter

I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.

There is only one way into heaven and that is through the Divine Gateway of Jesus Christ. It is through his shepherding teachings that he shows us the true way to eternal life. There are no other paths to paradise, except those which go through Christ. The road to ruin is wide and full of thieves, stealing, slaughtering, and destroying poor souls. However, God will protect us from the dangers of the world if we are willing to listen to His Voice and follow Jesus along the narrow and righteous trail to heaven. He shall feed us with his Body and pour out his Blood for us so we might be sustained through our trials and have more abundant lives with him.

Have we accepted Jesus as our Shepherd? Do we listen to his voice? Do we follow him to where we need to be?

O Lord, help us to live our lives more abundantly in, through, and with you.

Amen.

The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

The way we may be sure that we know Jesus is to keep his commandments. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him: whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as he walked.

It’s not easy to walk as Jesus walked. Our sins can be constant obstacles and stumbling blocks along the narrow path to Paradise. We can let pride, envy, anger, lust, gluttony, greed, and sloth either lead us to do evil or cause us to forego an opportunity to do good. If we want to know, love, and serve God and His children, then we have to strive to be Christ-like in everything we think, say, or do. It is only by imitating Christ that we can be truly perfected in him. It is not enough to claim we are disciples. We also have to follow in his footsteps and become living sacrifices to God for the good of others.

Do we keep God’s commandments? Do we truly know, love, and serve God and His children? Are we united with Christ as we make our spiritual journey?

O Lord, we want to walk just as you walked from Bethlehem to Calvary, from cradle to grave.

Amen.

Thirtieth Thursday of Ordinary Time

“Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose. Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.’”

Jesus doesn't let the worries of others rule his actions. He does not let the threat to his life paralyze him. What the Pharisees tell him could've been said out of fear for Jesus' life, but also it could've been said to drive him away. And yet, Jesus does not waver in his mission. He says he must continue no matter what. We need to act in a similar way when it comes to proclaiming our faith. We cannot let the fears of others or our own anxieties drive us away from the calling God has given us. Instead, when faced with adversity we must continue to walk the narrow path to Heaven even if it means persecution or death.

What worries and anxieties are tempting us to leave the path God has made for us? How can we continue the mission our Lord has given us as Christians and individuals? If we are afraid of being persecuted for our faith, then how can we overcome those fears?

O Lord, give us the strength to continue on the narrow path you've prepared for us.

Amen.

Thirtieth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

“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.’”

Being a Christian doesn't guarantee us a place in heaven. We can't just say we believe, but not live it out in such a way as to make our very lives a proclamation of the Gospels and God's message of love, mercy, and grace. If we want to enter through the narrow gate to heaven, then we must strengthen our hearts, minds, and souls to do God's Will. When we fail to do this we make ourselves strangers to Christ and disfigure the image of God that resides within each of us. And so we strive to be better people, to know, love, and serve God and His children with all our hearts so that as humble servants we might enter Paradise and enjoy the heavenly feast with our Lord and Savior.

Are we striving to become holy people? Are our feet on the narrow path to God or the wide one to ruin? Will God be able to recognize us through our good works and virtues or be unable to recognize us because we've veiled ourselves in sin and selfishness?

O Lord, help us to strive to enter through the narrow gate.

Amen.

The Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

“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."

Reaching the Kingdom of Heaven is no easy task. It requires us to strive for it. We are not perfect. We have faults, temptations, and sins that keep us from obtaining our full potential. Thankfully, God does not require us to be perfect. What He requires of us is the striving for holiness. We need to pursue God's Will with patience and persistence, never allowing our fears, doubts, or selfishness to get in the way of what we are called to do. We might stumble and fall, we may even fail most of the time, but as long as we keep trying to do the right thing God will give us the graces we need to succeed in this greatest of quests. The strength of our character will be measured by our ability to not only overcome our faults with God's help, but also to seek His forgiveness. If we let His Divine Mercy be our strength, then we shall be strong enough to enter through the narrow gate.

What are we striving for in our lives? Is being with God in heaven our main goal or has something else taking its place? How can we align our hearts, souls, and minds toward what is truly important, namely doing God's Will and joining Him in life everlasting?

O Lord, we are not strong enough to save ourselves, but with you all things are possible.

Amen.

Twelfth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.

Staying on the right path is a constant struggle in our lives. We are continually tempted toward sin and selfishness and away from virtue and self-sacrifice. If we are not careful, we can be led astray by our passions or indifference and find ourselves on the wide road to destruction. Jesus never told us that his Way would be easy to follow. But we should spend every moment trying to find and stay on the narrow path to God because it is the only road to eternal life. This is why we should make sure our footsteps are lit by the lights of faith, hope, and love. Without them we are lost, but with them we will be able to walk securely and live a life worthy of passing through the heavenly gates.

What are the temptations, sins, and distractions that are leading us toward the wide road of destruction? How can we live more virtuous and selfless lives? In what ways can we help others stay upon the narrow path to heaven?

O Lord, lead us to your heavenly gates and life everlasting with you.

Amen.