Scripture Scribbles: August 24, 2025
the Gospel
Luke 13:22-30
Jesus passed through towns and villages,
teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.
Someone asked him,
"Lord, will only a few people be saved?"
He answered them,
"Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.
After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
'Lord, open the door for us.'
He will say to you in reply,
'I do not know where you are from.
And you will say,
'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.'
Then he will say to you,
'I do not know where you are from.
Depart from me, all you evildoers!'
And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth
when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
and all the prophets in the kingdom of God
and you yourselves cast out.
And people will come from the east and the west
and from the north and the south
and will recline at table in the kingdom of God.
For behold, some are last who will be first,
and some are first who will be last."
the scribble
"Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many ... will not be strong enough.”
The virtue of strength—fortitude—doesn’t come naturally to me. My cousin nicknamed me “Kitty Cat Karen” because of my meekness and timidness. Many school days ended in tears, shed over others’ unkind remarks. I was too weak and afraid to fight back—I didn’t know how to.
On one occasion, my mom, like a mother lioness defending her helpless cub, charged onto the school bus to confront and scold one of the girls who was mercilessly teasing me. My tormentor was immediately and forever silenced. Decades later, on my own, I still feel not strong enough— too weak to enter through the narrow gate.
“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’... for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Fr. Roo confirmed, “Frequent confession will strengthen you for battle, as does the Eucharistic, and the Holy Spirit will bestow the gift of fortitude.”
My mom doesn’t need to fight my battles anymore, because the One who is in me is greater than he who is in the world. “The Lord will fight for you; you have only to keep still” (Exodus 14:14). Without fear, let us enter through the narrow gate, relying on God— the Maker of heaven and earth—the ultimate source of our strength and support. “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
Today’s devotion was written by Karen Molvar
