Do not risk being shut out

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Lucas 13:22-30)

Miyerkules (Oktubre 30)

Samtang nagapakadto si Jesus sa Jerusalem nagpanudlo sia sa mga baryo kag mga banwa nga iya gin-agihan.

Karon may nagpamangkot sa iya, “Sir, diutay lang bala ang maluwas?” Si Jesus nagsabat sa ila, “Magtinguha kamo sa pagsulod sa makitid nga puwertahan. Kay nagasiling ako sa inyo nga madamo ang magatinguha sa pagsulod, pero indi makasulod.

Ang pangulo sang balay magabangon kag magapanira sang puwertahan. Ti, kon didto pa kamo sa gwa kag magapanuktok kamo sa puwertahan kag magsiling, ‘Sir, abrihi kami!’ magasabat sia sa inyo, ‘Wala ako makahibalo kon taga-diin kamo.’

Ti, magasabat kamo, ‘Nagkaon kag nag-inom kami upod sa imo kag nagpanudlo ka sa amon banwa.’

Magasiling sia liwat, ‘Wala ako makahibalo kon taga-diin kamo. Palayo kamo sa akon, tanan kamo nga manugbuhat sang kalautan!’

Daw ano ang paghinibi kag pagbinagrot sang mga ngipon, kon makita ninyo si Abraham, si Isaac, kag si Jacob kag ang tanan nga mga propeta sa Ginharian sang Dios, samtang kamo inyo wala pagpasudla.

May mga tawo nga magaabot halin sa sidlangan kag nakatundan, halin sa aminhan kag bagatnan, kag magapungko sa pagkaon sa punsyon sa Ginharian sang Dios.

Ti, may mga naulihi karon nga mauna, kag may mga nauna karon nga maulihi.”

Prayers:

"Lord Jesus, help me to always trust in your saving grace, especially when I am tempted and put to the test. Help me to be faithful to you and give me the courage and strength to resist temptation, especially the temptation to compromise or to be indifferent to your word."

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Reflection of the Daily Gospel:

What does the image of a door say to us about the kingdom of God? Jesus' story about the door being shut to those who come too late suggests they had offended their host and deserved to be excluded. It was customary for teachers in Jesus' time to close the door on tardy students and not allow them back for a whole week in order to teach them a lesson in discipline and faithfulness. Jesus told this story in response to the question of who will make it to heaven. Many rabbis held that all Israel would be saved, except for a few blatant sinners who excluded themselves! After all, they were specially chosen by God when he established a covenant with them.

Jesus doesn't directly answer the question, however; but his response is nonetheless unsettling on two counts. First, Jesus surprised his listeners by saying that one's membership as a covenanted people does not automatically mean entry into the kingdom of God. Second, Jesus asserts that many from the gentile nations would enter God's kingdom. God's invitation is open to Jew and Gentile alike. But Jesus warns that we can be excluded if we do not strive to enter by the narrow door. What did Jesus mean by this expression? The door which Jesus had in mind was himself. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved (John 10:9). Jesus opens the way for us to enter into God's kingdom through the cross where he has laid down his life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. If we want to enter and remain citizens of God's kingdom, then we must follow Jesus in the way of the cross. The word strive can also be translated agony. To enter the kingdom of God one must struggle against the forces of temptation to sin and whatever would hinder us from doing the will of God (even apathy, indifference, and compromise). 

 The good news is that we do not struggle alone. God is with us and his grace is sufficient! As we strive side by side for the faith of the gospel (Philippians 1:27) Jesus assures us of complete victory! Do you trust in God's grace and help, especially in times of testing and temptation?