Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time (June 27, 2017): The lonely road to the narrow gate.

Thứ Hai, 26-06-2017 | 16:00:25

Today’s Readings:

Genesis 13:2, 5-18
Ps 15:1-5
Matthew 7:6, 12-14
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062717.cfm

USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/17_06_27.mp3


A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the Law and the Prophets.

“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.”


Good News Reflection: 

Have you ever felt lonely because of your Christian faith? Do you have enough companions on the road of holiness? When Jesus said (as we see in our Gospel reading today) that the road to heaven is narrow, he had a dozen guys who lived in close community with him, several women friends (often including his mother), and a large contingent of followers who learned enough from him to go out and preach and heal and cast out demons.

But the road to Calvary was going to be mighty lonely.

Holiness is a rough road to travel, not only because we keep tripping over our own tendencies to sin, but also because we meet co-journeyers who choose not to stay the course. We also run into the dogs and swine that Jesus mentioned — people who don’t want to accept the truth about life in Christ nor put full effort into becoming more saintly. They join us on this road but they either attack the faith or they attack us and leave us sitting on the curb weary and wounded.

And while we wait for someone to come by and tend to our wounds, we notice that too few stop to help, too few understand our needs, and too few are healed enough of their own wounds to give us what we need. Did God intend for us to feel so alone? No, because we are not alone!

When Jesus needed more from his friends, who were too few or too sleepy, he went to the Father. We will always feel somewhat lonely here on earth, because the Father’s embrace is not a physical hug, but we never need to feel alone. A habit of deep prayer puts us in touch with the reality that God is with us every step of the way. Jesus is right beside us, holding our hand, kissing our wounds, crying with our hurts, laughing at our jokes, dancing in our joys.

Human companionship is equally important. Jesus spent personal time with those who became especially close to him. Even while he suffered on the cross, he experienced the undying love and loyalty of two: his mother and John. As you hang on your own cross, who is at the foot of it, weeping? If you can’t see someone there, ask Jesus to open your eyes.

When Jesus promised that he’d never abandon us, he intended to fulfill this through his earthly presence, the Body of Christ on earth, which is our faith community. But we want our Johns to be Jesuses. We want our companions on the road to be already perfectly holy. And so we look right past them and miss what God is offering to us through them.

Recall that Jesus often went to dinner parties. Fun fellowship is an important way to get to know others who are on the road to heaven. We won’t find our co-journeyers by sitting alone in our prayer rooms. Time alone with God is necessary, but we’d better be using that time to become better at finding and mingling with the companions he’s providing.

Today’s Prayer:

Beloved Jesus, give me your light to discover the path that leads me to you. Give me wisdom to neither divert nor distract myself from it. Give me strength not to dismay when loneliness is cruel. May the joy of your Holy Spirit accompany me, until we meet, my Jesus, door to eternal life. Amen.

© 2017 by Terry A. Modica

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