Gospel
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.”
There is a common belief among those who say they believe in God but not in churches or faith communities. It is the belief that just by admitting that Jesus exists and living a good life, God will surly save us from hell. After all they say God is good.
It is born out of pride and self righteousness and a lack of understanding of God and the teachings of Christ. And it’s rooted in laziness of spirit and lack of discipline.
Our God wants a relationship with us. He has sent his son to bring us home. And he has established commandments and sacraments to help us. He has sent guardian angels to be with us every second of our life and they are with us now. He sent the Holy Spirit to be with us if we only ask for help. And he has given us a mother in heaven Mary to comfort us and seek our best as only a mother can.
His love for us is intense and beyond our ability to fathom. And this God who loves greatly, with a love that is all encompassing wants a relationship with us. For us to ignore his words and commandments. To ignore the church Jesus established himself for us. To ignore his calling to prayer and to love him above all else….is to shun him. To reject God. To say I choose “other than God.”
Our God purposefully seeks us. He expects us to not delay and strive to know him and build a relationship with him, so he can bless us with his graces. Graces of true peace and joy and love. Beyond our expectations.
Maybe another way to look at this is to ask if we treated our spouse how we treat God, would we still be in that relationship? Would it be thriving or cold and distant.
If our relationships with those mortals we love requires constant attention and devotion to be healthy, how much more does God require from us?
The path to Jesus is narrow because so many do not yet understand that any relationship requires discipline and commitment. God desires nothing be put ahead of relationship within.
Out of all peoples who say they believe in God, few prioritize that reason holy above all others. But instead live by fleeting feelings and desires still. Success in anything requires discipline and commitment and pushing beyond emotional feelings and laziness.
Are we committed to a relationship with God and seek to be stronger everyday?
How are we doing?
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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