First Reading - Isaiah 66:18-21
Second Reading - Hebrews 12:5-7,11-13
Gospel - Luke 13:22-30
Life often teaches us that what appears easy and comfortable is not always what leads us to what is good, true, and lasting. Today’s readings challenge us to think seriously about the path we are walking. They invite us to embrace discipline, perseverance, and faithfulness so that we may one day enter into God’s kingdom—not by chance, but by a life shaped by grace and effort.
In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah envisions a day when all nations will be gathered into God’s kingdom. People of every language and nation will be drawn to His glory, and even those once considered outsiders will be chosen as His instruments. This reveals the wideness of God’s mercy and His desire to include all people in His saving plan.
Yet inclusion in God’s kingdom is not without responsibility, as the second reading reminds us. The author of Hebrews speaks of discipline, not as punishment, but as a sign of God’s love. Like a parent who corrects a child, God shapes us through challenges and trials, training us to walk in His ways. Discipline may feel painful in the moment, but it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who endure it.
This connects directly with the Gospel, where Jesus speaks of the narrow door. Many will try to enter, but not all will succeed. The narrow door is not meant to frighten us but to awaken us. It calls us to seriousness of faith, to live not in complacency or presumption, but in daily fidelity to God. It is not enough to say we know Christ; we must live in a way that shows we belong to Him—through love, sacrifice, and obedience to His will.
Dear friends, the readings remind us that salvation is both gift and challenge. It is God’s gracious invitation to all, but it also demands our response. The path is narrow because it requires us to let go of pride, selfishness, and sin. It asks of us humility, perseverance, and trust in God’s grace.
Let us not be discouraged by the narrowness of the door, but rather be inspired to walk with greater faith and determination. For the One who calls us is also the One who strengthens us. With His grace, we can endure the trials of discipline, resist the temptations of ease, and live in such a way that when we reach that door, we will hear Him say, “Come in, for I know you.”
May we strive each day to walk faithfully, to accept God’s loving discipline, and to keep our eyes fixed on the kingdom that awaits us, where people from every nation will gather at the banquet of the Lord.
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