Crowning a baby after baptismReadings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,)
Readings (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)
Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)
Gospel Luke 13:22-30 (English Standard Version, Anglicised)
At that time: Jesus went on his way through towns and villages,
teaching and journeying towards Jerusalem. And someone said to him, ‘Lord, will
those who are saved be few?’ And he said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the
narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to
stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, “Lord, open to us”, then he
will answer you, “I do not know where you come from.” Then you will begin to
say, “We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.” But he
will say, “I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all
you workers of evil!” In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the
kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. And people will come from east and
west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And
behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.’
Responsorial Psalm (NAB Lectionary, Philippines, USA)
This week I’ll hand over to Pope Benedict XVI. Here is his Angelus talk, given in Castel Gandolfo on Sunday, 26 August 2007. I have highlighted some parts of it. Perhaps it is futile to do so since Pope Benedict’s talks and writings are so rich and uplifting. May God grant eternal rest to his great servant.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today's liturgy presents to us enlightening yet at the same time disconcerting words of Christ.
On his last journey to Jerusalem someone asked him: 'Lord, will those who are saved be few?' And Jesus answered: 'Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able' (Lk 13: 23-24).
What does this 'narrow door' mean? Why do many not succeed in entering through it? Is it a way reserved for only a few of the chosen?
Indeed, at close examination this way of reasoning by those who were conversing with Jesus is always timely: the temptation to interpret religious practice as a source of privileges or security is always lying in wait.
Actually, Christ's message goes in exactly the opposite direction: everyone may enter life, but the door is 'narrow' for all. We are not privileged. The passage to eternal life is open to all, but it is 'narrow' because it is demanding: it requires commitment, self-denial and the mortification of one's selfishness.
Once again, as on recent Sundays, the Gospel invites us to think about the future which awaits us and for which we must prepare during our earthly pilgrimage.
Salvation, which Jesus brought with his death and Resurrection, is universal. He is the One Redeemer and invites everyone to the banquet of immortal life; but on one and the same condition: that of striving to follow and imitate him, taking up one's cross as he did, and devoting one's life to serving the brethren. This condition for entering heavenly life is consequently one and universal.
In the Gospel, Jesus recalls further that it is not on the basis of presumed privileges that we will be judged but according to our actions. The 'workers of iniquity' will find themselves shut out, whereas all who have done good and sought justice at the cost of sacrifices will be welcomed.
Thus, it will not suffice to declare that we are 'friends' of Christ, boasting of false merits: 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets' (Lk 13: 26).
True friendship with Jesus is expressed in the way of life: it is expressed with goodness of heart, with humility, meekness and mercy, love for justice and truth, a sincere and honest commitment to peace and reconciliation.
We might say that this is the 'identity card' that qualifies us as his real 'friends'; this is the 'passport' that will give us access to eternal life.
Dear brothers and sisters, if we too want to pass through the narrow door, we must work to be little, that is, humble of heart like Jesus, like Mary his Mother and our Mother. She was the first, following her Son, to take the way of the Cross and she was taken up to Heaven in glory, an event we commemorated a few days ago. The Christian people invoke her as Ianua Caeli, Gate of Heaven. Let us ask her to guide us in our daily decisions on the road that leads to the 'gate of Heaven'.
True friendship with Jesus is expressed in the way of life, says Pope Benedict. We are invited into this friendship, which Jesus desires to be eternal, at our baptism.
Traditional Latin Mass
What earlier
generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot
be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful (Benedict XVI).
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
The Complete Mass in Latin and English is here. (Adjust the date at the top of that page to 08-24-2025 if necessary).
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 15:1-10. Gospel: Mark 7:31-37
And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech; and they besought him to lay his hand upon him (Mark 7:32; Gospel).
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