Gospel Reading for August 24, 2025 – Luke 13: 22-30
JESUS’ LIFE
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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When we hear the word NARROW, we start thinking of restrictions, of not having much room to move around, of not being so free. “Strive to enter through the narrow gate …” would mean taking up our cross and following Jesus. We are saved when we willingly and seriously take up the mission given to us in life. We are saved when throughout our lives we think not only of ourselves but of other people in need around us. We cannot think of salvation as a sort of pass to heaven. We cannot think of salvation as a prize we receive at the end of a race. Jesus already suffered, died and resurrected for us to be saved. By the grace of God and with true faith, when we live JESUS’ LIFE, we shall surely be saved.
We thank you Lord for giving us the opportunity to live our life in the fullness of your grace!
