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Tuesday, June 21, 2005

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St. Aloysius Gonzaga


Genesis 13:2, 5-18
Psalm 15
Matthew 7:6, 12-14

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the gate, way, truth, and life

"Enter through the narrow gate. The gate that leads to damnation is wide, the road is clear, and many choose to travel it." —Matthew 7:13

There are two gates in life: the narrow gate and the wide gate. Many choose to enter through the wide gate because it is easy to do so. You would think we would choose a gate based on what's behind it rather than on how easy it is to get through it. For example, does a person go on a road just because the road is wide, or because it leads to his destination? If we choose the wide gate, we are ignorant both of where the road behind this gate leads and where the road behind the narrow gate leads.

Jesus is the Gate (Jn 10:7, 9). He is "the Way, and the Truth, and the Life" (Jn 14:6). Jesus is the Truth about Life. He alone can reveal to us where the roads behind the gates of life go (see Rv 5:5). Whoever enters through Jesus will be safe and saved (Jn 10:9). Those who try to make their own way of life will destroy themselves (see Mt 7:13). It takes the Gate to know the gates.

Therefore, thankfully and totally give your life to Jesus, the Gate, Who is our only Savior (Acts 4:12) and our only Hope.

Prayer:  Father, may I have enough faith and love to tell people about Jesus, the Truth.

Promise:  "Set forth and walk about in the land, through its length and breadth, for to you I will give it." —Gn 13:17

Praise:  St. Aloysius wrote: "God in His grace and His love is showing me the path of true happiness." He lived that path by joyfully serving victims of a severe plague.

Reference:  (Read the Bible daily to help you through the narrow gate. For encouragement, order any or all of these tapes: Ignorance of Scripture is Ignorance of Christ, AV 82-1, V-82, How to Pray the Bible on audio AV 82-3 or on video V-82, How to Read the Bible on audio AV 46-3 or on video V-46, Principles of Bible Interpretation, audio AV 79-1, video V-79.)

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 20, 2004

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