The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ephesians 6:1-9
Psalm 145:10-14
Luke 13:22-30

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"Away from me, you evil-doers." (Luke 13:27)

Our Gospel reading deals with the central issue of our Christian faith. God sent Christ into this world to deliver us from sin, reconcile us with the Father to save us from spiritual death, eternal separation from His divine Presence. Today's religious writers and speakers often create the impression that God blinks away sins and opens heaven's portals wide to all who die. Surely, God's mercy is ever present, takes into consideration all the circumstances of our lives in His judgment of us. However, looking at the world through clear eyes shows man's seemingly infinite capacity for mindless cruelty, often most severely exercised against those who express the only means we have of achieving peace and justice in this world, through our following Christ's teachings. Recall His horrific torture and death.

Jesus' telling us to choose the narrow door does not mean that God's way is small and restrictive. He means that for entrance into His kingdom, we are to make ourselves little, become humble, realizing that if we sincerely desire to live in a world pervaded by truth, love, justice and peace, we are to follow in Christ's footsteps. Jesus, the infinite, all powerful God made Himself small, human, so He could live out in His human flesh a life of self-giving and sacrifice for our sakes. We are invited to emulate Him who in His human flesh lived intimately and in perfect obedience to His Father. Love and truth, justice and peace stem from humility, from our recognition that there exists a far greater and wiser mind and heart than our own and agree to faithfully follow in His ways.

O Blessed Spirit,
continue pouring Your living water upon our hearts,
that this power of Your love
will fill them to overflowing
and so be shared with the world.
Amen.

- Marie Bocko, OCDS
(mlbocko at earthlink dot net)

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posted by joachim at 5:17 AM