TODAY’S GOSPEL (Mt 7:6, 12-14)

Enter through the narrow gate;
for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,
and those who enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few.

Mt 7:13-14

These words of Jesus, in the last chapter of the Sermon on the Mount, should give us pause, to say the least. The Lord does not mince words here. He asks us to reform our lives constantly. There are many temptations to take us off the straight and narrow path that leads to life. We must keep our eyes on the prize (remember Mt 5:29).

God our savior…wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.

1 Tim 2:4

How does this square with the verses at top? Free will is the answer — we are able to accept or reject the Almighty. But, God gives the baptized access to graces that He is most willing to pour out on us if only we are receptive. As for the non-Christian, God can work out their salvation as well, although He calls us to evangelize to make that process easier (see CCC 847 and Dominus Iesus, 22).

As far as the ongoing controversy, which has reemerged with some intensity, regarding how many will be saved, or even the possibility that all are ultimately saved, I would point you to two videos and at least one related book:

• Bp Barron on Whether Hell is Crowded or Empty
• Ralph Martin Responds to Bp. Barron and his book, Will Many be Saved?

The bottom line, I think both men would agree on, regarding universal salvation: Don’t count on it.

(THOMAS) MORE IS MORE

Today is the feast day of St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, two brave men, who stood, essentially alone, in the face of the tyranny of King Henry VIII who had the audacity to declare himself head of the church in England. For their bravery, and for the cause of religious freedom, both paid with their heads. We need their courage today..

For Lent, I read More’s last book, The Sadness of Christ (my review), written from imprisonment in the Tower of London. Good reading any time of year.

CLEAN IS FUNNY

For some uproarious clean adult humor, check out Ryan Hamilton (a YouTube clip). I just got a note today from him that he is back on tour. Very funny, I laughed a lot at his Netflix Original special, Happy Face, that we happily came across in the midst of the pandemic.

God bless.