Eleventh Wednesday in Ordinary Time

When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you." Elisha answered, "May I receive a double portion of your spirit." "You have asked something that is not easy," Elijah replied. "Still, if you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted; otherwise not."

Elisha asks for a double portion of Elijah's spirit and in a way, we are also called to ask for a double portion of the spirit of Jesus Christ. We should always be striving to be God's instrument of goodness, love, mercy, and grace to all the world. We should hunger and thirst for righteousness. We should be willing to make our lives into living sacrifices. All of this is what Jesus did in his life and his model should be one we strive to imitate. Our souls should magnify our Lord and Savior and rejoice in his work... done through us. Of course, we can never truly receive a double portion or ever surpass the holiness of Jesus Christ, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't seek to be the best version of ourselves.

In what ways are we striving to be better Christians? How can we make ourselves more and more into Christ? Are we willing to imitate Jesus even in those things we find most difficult?

O Lord, grant us a double portion of your Love, Mercy, and Grace.

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.