Daily Readings - Wed Oct 26 2022
Ephesians
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.2"Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise--3"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."4Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.6Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,8because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.9And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
Luke
22Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.23Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?"24He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.25Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.'"But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'26"Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.'27"But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!'28"There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.29People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.30Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on how our daily actions and choices align with God’s will. The first reading from Ephesians reminds us of the importance of living out our faith in our relationships and work. It calls children to obey their parents, parents to nurture their children with kindness, and servants and masters to treat each other with respect and fairness. This passage emphasizes that our actions are not just about human relationships but are ultimately directed toward God, who sees and rewards the good we do.
The Gospel from Luke shifts our focus to the ultimate goal of our lives: entering the kingdom of God. Jesus warns us that the path to salvation is narrow and requires effort and perseverance. He cautions against complacency, reminding us that merely being familiar with him or attending to religious practices is not enough. The dramatic image of people being excluded from the kingdom while others from all directions take their places at the table underscores the universality of God’s invitation and the need for humility and openness to His grace.
These readings remind us that living a life pleasing to God is both a moral and spiritual endeavor. While we strive to live with integrity in our relationships and work, we must also keep our eyes fixed on the narrow gate that leads to eternal life. Let us ask ourselves: Are we living in a way that reflects God’s love and justice? Are we putting in the effort to grow in holiness and deepen our relationship with Him? May we embrace the challenge of living as true disciples, trusting in God’s mercy and striving to enter the kingdom with hearts open to His will.