ENTER THE NARROW GATE…

Genesis 13:2,5-18

2 Now Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 5 And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6 so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, 7 and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdsmen of Lot’s cattle. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites dwelt in the land.
8 Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen; for we are kinsmen.
9 Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.”

10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw that the Jordan valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar; this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
11 So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan valley, and Lot journeyed east; thus they separated from each other.
12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, while Lot dwelt among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD.
14 The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward;
15 for all the land which you see I will give to you and to your descendants for ever. 16 I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your descendants also can be counted.
17 Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” 18 So Abram moved his tent, and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron; and there he built an altar to the LORD.

Matthew 7:6,12-14

6 “Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under foot and turn to attack you. 12 So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.  

MEDITATION

THE FIRST READING tells the story of the separation of Abram and Lot his nephew that was precipitated by skirmishes between their respective herdsmen because the grazing land could not sustain the herds of both these men. 
Lot was given the first option to choose where he wish to settle. He used his visual and cognitive faculties and selfishly chose which land was best suited to his personal needs, whilst Abram sought the wisdom of God in prayer to lead him to the promised land for all God’s people. Most importantly, Abram build an altar to mark his place of habitation with the Lord. 

THE GOSPEL READING proceed from our Lord’s teaching that we apply prudential oversight in matters of judgement. Jesus use metaphoric language (v 6) to illustrate that those who are ignorant and or who disparage that which is holy and true is for obvious reasons not able to properly discern in matters that could lead to eternal damnation.

Catec 1806 Prudence is the virtue that disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it; “the prudent man looks where he is going.”…Prudence is “right reason in action,” writes St. Thomas Aquinas, following Aristotle. It is not to be confused with timidity or fear, nor with duplicity or dissimulation. It is called auriga virtutum (the charioteer of the virtues); it guides the other virtues by setting rule and measure. It is prudence that immediately guides the judgment of conscience. The prudent man determines and directs his conduct in accordance with this judgment. With the help of this virtue we apply moral principles to particular cases without error and overcome doubts about the good to achieve and the evil to avoid.”

We do find ourselves in a time when prudential judgement  on matters of life, death, ethics and morality have been relegated to the ash heap. Laws and life choices are being fashioned based on visual, sensual and subjective human experiences to the extent that objective truths are trampled upon to feed and appease our latest cravings and so-called expressions! Believers are called to choose the narrow gate at the altar of Sacrifice whereby we shall encounter Christ Jesus who is the Truth and the way that shall lead to life eternal.

LET US PRAY:Psalms 15:2-5

2 He who walks blamelessly, and does what is right, and speaks truth from his heart; 3 who does not slander with his tongue, and does no evil to his friend, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
4 in whose eyes a reprobate is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 who does not put out his money at interest, and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

Author. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days

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