COLLECT SERIES
The Mass: Collect Series Icon
COLLECT
The Opening Prayer for the Twenty First Sunday of Year C
reads as follows:
O God,
who cause the minds of the faithful to unite in a single purpose,
grant
your people to love what you command
and to
desire what you promise,
that,
amid the uncertainties of this world,
our
hearts may be fixed on that place where true gladness is found.
Through
our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who
lives and reigns with you
in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Converting this prayer into
spirituality in action, the following reflection questions emerged:
1.What is the single purpose to which
I am united?
2.What are the commands that God
wants to love?
3. Which of these commands do I
struggle with most often and what can I do to change this?
4.What are the promises of God that I
need to desire?
5.Where is my heart fixed right now
and where will I fix it this coming week?
6. What are the uncertainties of my
world that I can bring to God this coming week?
GOSPEL REFLECTION
Gospel
Reflection: Luke 13:22–30
"Strive
to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and
will not be able."
Context
of the Passage
In
this passage, Jesus is journeying toward Jerusalem, teaching along the way.
When someone asks Him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” Jesus doesn’t
give a numerical answer but instead redirects the focus: salvation isn’t about how
many are saved but about how each person responds to God’s
invitation.
Key
Themes
1. The
Narrow Door
The
“narrow door” represents the challenging but rewarding path of discipleship.
It’s not about being perfect but about wholehearted commitment.
- The door is “narrow” because it requires
humility, surrender, and trust in God’s mercy.
- Jesus warns that it will not remain open
forever — there is urgency in choosing to follow Him today, not tomorrow.
2.
Knowing About Jesus vs. Knowing Him Personally
Jesus
says that some will say, “We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our
streets,” but He will reply, “I do not know you.”
- Being familiar with religious practices or
Christian culture isn’t enough.
- True discipleship flows from a living
relationship with Jesus, expressed through love, repentance, and mercy.
3. The
Great Reversal
Jesus
shocks His audience by declaring, “Some are last who will be first, and some
are first who will be last.”
- Salvation isn’t based on status,
knowledge, or heritage — but on faith and openness to God’s grace.
- Those considered “outsiders” may enter
before those who assumed they were “safe.”
Reflection
Questions
- What does the “narrow door” look like in
my own life right now?
- Am I living out my faith in a way that
transforms my daily choices, or am I just “near” Jesus without truly
following Him?
- Are there areas where I need to let go of
pride, self-reliance, or complacency so I can walk more freely with Him?
- How can I better respond to God’s
invitation today, rather than postponing my “yes” for later?
Closing
Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to choose
the narrow door each day.
Give me the courage to leave behind distractions and sin,
the humility to rely on Your grace,
and the love to follow You wherever You lead.
May I never presume upon salvation but live each day seeking You with all my
heart. Amen.
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