THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Wednesday of 30^th week in Ordinary time, 2021

Rom 8:26-30

Ps13

Luke 13:22-30

Lord open to us

Dear friends in Christ, life presents often the narrow way and the wide way in most situations. The wide way is often that which requires little or no effort. The corners that do not require you to go through the right way, or follow the laid down procedures. The other way which is narrow, requires a lot of work and efficiency but often very rewarding. It requires that you follow due process and avoid cutting corners. It requires passing through the gate or the door rather than jumping the fence or going through the window. To such people, the Lord will open the door.

In our first reading (Romans 8:26-30) Paul encourages his listeners to pray. This prayer is not just that of the one in distress. He says that the spirit prays in us when we are weak. “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.” This in a way is a call to those who feel weak to pray and particularly in moments of dryness in prayers never to give up. In fact when you do not know how to pray or what to pray for, merely sitting in the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is a great way to allow your spirit pour forth on your behalf. You may not be able to articulate your thoughts in prayers at certain moments but do not underestimate the fact that the spirit of God in you is able to connect you to the Lord. Learn to persevere in faithful prayer even when it seems nothing is happening. Pray till something happens, never give up.

In today’s gospel (Luke 13:22-30) Jesus was responding to the question “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” There are still people today, who worry on the number. Could it be 144,000 or less or more?  What is important however, is to make sure that even if only one person will be saved, that you are that one person. “Strive to enter through the narrow door.” The narrow door refers to the discipline that the Christian faith imposes on us. The alternative is very wide and leads to perdition. Those who fail to heed this warning will find themselves locked out of the banquet of the Lord. They might say, “We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught on our streets.” Yet he will not open, because there’s more to salvation than listening or watching him preach. The mercy of God is available for as long as you live. Are you taking advantage of the opportunities provided by the Church in this period?

Let us pray: Lord, open to us the door of your mercy as we come to knock, seek and pray.

+Remain blessed