Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Today's Gospel offers an easy example of a Scripture passage that can be incorporated into our prayer: It is a passage which can challenge us to ask what stands in the way of my being a disciple of Jesus.

We do not easily acknowledge our deep inner poverty. Awareness of our great need for God enables us to become a person of prayer.

We are sent out as disciples of Jesus to proclaim to others that joy we have found as disciples of the Lord Jesus.

Jesus is the narrow gate that leads to life. sin is the wide gate that leads to death.

If our faith in Christ is to become a blazing fire transforming our world, we must all begin to live holy lives. This conversion is brought about and nourished by deep, frequent prayers.

If we were to die unexpectedly, am I ready to meet Jesus? Am I ready to be taken to the heavenly home?

Prayer is essential if we are to grow rich in the things of God. Meaningful prayer requires that we bring ourselves to God, with both our positive and negative aspects of our lives.

Often when we do not know what is good for us. That is why we must prayerfully place our lives in God's hands. God wants only our good, our eternal good.

Only when we truly welcome a person into our lives and our hearts can we communicate to them the "good news: of Jesus, Our Savior.

If we are aware, there are many to whom we can reach out with compassion.