Dear friends in Christ

A person in the Gospel asks Jesus: Lord, will those who are saved be few? Jesus responds: Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. He does not discuss numbers, but only the manner by which we can reach Heaven. Divine privileges are not enough. What is asked of us is a faith with works, the kind of faith to which we have all been called. All of mankind have a vocation to go to Heaven, the definite Kingdom of God. This is what we have been born for, this is what Jesus desires for us: that everyone be saved. Our mission in the Church is the universal salvation of every person. The means God has given us is His Holy Church—this is the barque of salvation for every soul on the planet. It is an institution that is both divine and human: divine, because it is of God and is the Mystical Body of Christ; human, because it is constituted of human beings, all of us, who are sinners. It was said of the first Christians that what the soul is to the body, Christians are to the world. Could this be said of us, as we live our lives among our work colleagues and friends, among those with whom we socialise and enjoy sporting activities with? How many have we spoken to about God? Whom have we helped to go to Confession, or to whom we have explained the Church’s teaching on marriage and family life? To whom have we shown the greatness of being generous to the poor? How many have we helped to get to Heaven! As we listen to the Word of God at Mass this Sunday, we can ask ourselves these questions. We shall sing the words of Our Lord in the Psalm: Go into the world and tell the good news! May it be a lived reality and not simply a sentiment.

God bless you all!

Msgr Kevin Hale