Jesus passed through towns and villages,
teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.
Someone asked him,
“Lord, will only a few people be saved?”
He answered them,
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.
After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
‘Lord, open the door for us.’
He will say to you in reply,
‘I do not know where you are from.
And you will say,
‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’
Then he will say to you,
‘I do not know where you are from.
Depart from me, all you evildoers!’
And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth
when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
and all the prophets in the kingdom of God
and you yourselves cast out.
And people will come from the east and the west
and from the north and the south
and will recline at table in the kingdom of God.
For behold, some are last who will be first,
and some are first who will be last.”

I recently spoke with a friend who spent his summer internship working on developing a robot designed to perform the most delicate of surgeries inside the lung. He related how the precision of the robot surpasses the dexterity of the human hand. Yet, for its part, the robot is useless without being controlled by the guiding hand of a trained physician who knows proper surgical technique and the anatomy and physiology of the human body. 

The surgeon must be disciplined and remain focused on the outcome at all times. Should the surgeon deviate or lose focus, the likelihood of a failed procedure greatly increases. 

Whether its robotic or laser surgery or nanotechnology, science is always looking for was to enter through the narrow door. 

Our spiritual lives are much the same. We must be single-minded, follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and remain focused on where we will spend eternity. We must strive to enter through the narrow gate. 

Just as the surgical robot is useless without the surgeon, our spiritual lives are useless without following Christ. 

Lip service doesn’t do it. Being in the company of righteous individuals is nice but Jesus stresses that the Christian way demands total allegiance to Him. Our actions must be directed to a noble purpose with our lives centered on Jesus’ command to Love God with our whole heart and our neighbor as ourselves. A real Christian doesn’t simply talk the talk; they walk the walk. Our actions speak louder than our words especially when it comes to salvation or rejection. Even those who say, “Lord, we ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets” will have a rude awakening when they hear Jesus answer, “I do not know where you are from.” And He doesn’t say it once: notice in today’s Gospel He says it twice: “I do not know where you are from.”

What a chilling response from Christ himself.

In today’s first Scripture passage, the Prophet Isaiah makes it known that God “gather[s] nations of every language”. He gathers all people to Himself from every corner of the world. And He will teach them His ways. He shall discipline them in righteousness. He shall be their God, and they shall be His people. 

Our Lord continually invites all people to the Heavenly Banquet prepared for those who follow His way. But not all will be admitted. Only those who follow God’s way shall be let in for as today’s Sacred Gospel reading tells us, “people will come from east and west and recline at table in the kingdom of God” while the evildoers will be cast out and not be admitted to the Feast of the Heavenly Banquet.

Our lives are bombarded with stimulus from worldly and material attractions. We seem to be pulled in every direction. And before we know it, we have lost our focus and commitment to the Gospel reality that all that matters is spending eternity with God.   

Jesus guides our lives. He even “taught in our streets.” Yes; He taught. But what have we learned? St. Paul reminds us, “Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, [and] serve the Lord…endure in affliction, persevere in prayer… bless those who persecute you…do not repay anyone evil for evil” (Rom 12:12-17).

In a few minutes we shall enter into the part of the Mass called the Liturgy of the Eucharist. We shall be invited to the Supper of the Lamb and be in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. This is an opportunity for each of us to grow even closer to Jesus than we are right now. It is through His Grace that we are invited to share in the Heavenly Banquet for without His Grace we are nothing. Without Christ we can do nothing.   

The gate is narrow; the road is hard. But, we must choose one of two paths; the way of the wise or the way of the foolish. We are often tempted to dine at the table of our own will rather than to do the will of God. Yet, when we embrace the Cross of Christ and die to ourselves we find true happiness. Our disciplined approach to life permits us to remain focused on our goal to lead a life that is in conformity with God’s plan for our Salvation. Self-control leads to a virtuous life and a virtuous life enables us to remain steadfast and focused on our objective to spend eternity with Christ, His Blessed Mother, and all the Saints for eternity.

Deacon Mark Izzo, Permanent Deacon, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica and Saint Anthony Parish

Content available soon.

Deacon Anthony Falasca, Jr., Permanent Deacon, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica and Saint Anthony Parish

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.