Reflection for October 26 Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:22-30

Gospel: Luke 13:22-30

Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, "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. And you will say, 'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.' Then he will say to you, 'I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!' 

And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who died, minutes before his last breath he said to his family: I will go to heaven to be with the Lord because I know Jesus. After he died he was not allowed entry to the heavenly gates. Since, he knew the Lord he asked: “Why am I barred from entering heaven I know Jesus?” The angel said to him, “Yes you know the Lord but you did not do something for him during your lifetime.”  

How are you living your life today? Do you live it in pursuit of the many pleasures of this world? There are many stories of destroyed lives for the simple reason that they immersed their lives in this world. Not knowing that they were actually being brought little by little by the devil to his kingdom. 

The door to hell is wide, it’s full of worldly pleasures, for example, try going to a night club or a bar in the dead of night. What would you find there? People who loves worldly pleasures, people who would readily commit sin if the opportunity presents itself most especially when they are already intoxicated.  

Jesus in our gospel talks about the narrow door; this is the door that leads to Himself. Why is it narrow? Because to follow the Lord is not a bed of roses we have to sacrifice to follow the Lord. Knowing the Lord and following Him are two different things. It’s very easy to say I know the Lord but to follow Him is difficult in the sense that we have to go through purification and sacrifice. However, after our purification and sacrifice we will be in heaven this is the reward that awaits us someday. 

We need to reflect and ponder at some point in our lives and ask ourselves this question, is my life all about knowing the Lord and not following Him? - Marino J. Dasmarinas