Greetings on this the Thursday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 2 Kgs 24:8-17; Ps 79:1b-2, 3-5, 8, 9; Mt 7:21-29
Continuous Expansion of the Narrow Gate
- On Tuesday our gospel portion in the words of Jesus talks about the narrow gate. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.
- On Wednesday our gospel portion in the words of Jesus reflect on the fruit – good or bad – that people can produce.
- On Thursday, today, our gospel portion in the words of Jesus bring further clarity with the True Disciple and the Two Foundations.
These three together describe The Way, The Gate, The True Disciple and the choice of between the Two Foundations.
Conclusion: The narrow gate then is defined by the producing the good fruit, with the obedience of the good life lived, and evident in those who follow the advice of Jesus. Good fruit with good life (avoiding evil) and those who build their life upon the good foundation of divine guidance that will stand all challenges and difficulties.
Summary
The gospel portion today recognizes those who do apparent good.
Apparent good – That which merely seems good; that which satisfies some appetite or desire sufficiently to become an object of choice. But it is not the true good because it is not morally right, since it does not conform to the purpose of man as a whole (https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/dictionary/index.cfm?id=31922#:~:text=That%20which%20merely%20seems%20good,of%20man%20as%20a%20whole.).
The goodness of a moral act is assessed based on three conditions: object (and its goodness), intention (or end as expressed by Saint Thomas Aquinas), and circumstances (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1755).
Reflection
Jesus is not saying good people without perfect intent are not going to heaven. Rather we are obliged to review an apparent good with the intent and circumstances on whether it is good or not. Since we cannot see into a soul and know the intent exactly we do so carefully. Discipleship is when the active agent (you or me) have obedience to the Divine Life when making any good action for it to express and retain the goodness of divine effect.
Personal Reflection
A true disciple has the right intent of obedience to the Lord, a good act and a fruitful expression. Heading that perspective in our life decisions is the good foundation Jesus is referring to.
Sacred Readings
Full link: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062724.cfm
First Reading
None were left among the people of the land except the poor.
Responsorial
For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
Gospel Acclamation
Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him.
Gospel
The True Disciple. The attack on the false prophets is continued, but is broadened to include those disciples who perform works of healing and exorcism in the name of Jesus (Lord) but live evil lives (USCCB Commentary).
Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
The Two Foundations. Here the relation is not between saying and doing as in Mt 7:15–23 but between hearing and doing, and the words of Jesus are applied to every Christian (everyone who listens) (USCCB Commentary).
Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Deacon Gerry Palermo 