Good morning good people, may the Lord give you peace and blessings in the Holy Spirit. It is 29th October 2025. We reflect on Romans 8:26–30 and the Gospel of Luke 13:22–30.
Are we undermining the power of the Holy Spirit?
St. Ignatius of Antioch pointed out, “Without the Holy Spirit, God is far away, Christ stays in the past, the Gospel is a dead letter, the Church is simply an organization, authority a matter of domination, mission a matter of propaganda.”
There is no true prayer without recognising the presence of the Holy Spirit. Prayer cannot be reduced to multitasking. It is not as though we are busy with many activities while the Spirit of God prays separately, disconnected from our actions. All the help we need to pray comes from God the Spirit, who lifts our hearts when we are brought low by unfair treatment and the cruel wounds life inflicts upon us.
By ignoring the presence of the Holy Spirit, we cannot enter into dialogue with God.
“The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26)
There is immensely powerful spiritual support from the Spirit to intercede for us according to God’s plan. God works in all things and transforms even our most challenging situations into moments of hidden victory for those who strive tirelessly to do good. The Holy Spirit gives us a new outlook, mindset, and perception.
Pain and peril cannot diminish our love for God; if they do, then our faith is weak, fragile, and counterfeit. To mirror Christ is the purpose of our life. Yet this becomes nearly impossible when we close our hearts to the promptings of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God.
To pass through the pearly gate, we must first enter the narrow gate of life—undistracted, undeterred, and undepressed.
God has not reserved the gift of salvation for a particular tribe, caste, colour, or creed. It is freely offered to all humanity through Christ. That is why we must understand the Gospel within the context of its time. In Jesus’ day, many believed salvation was limited to a chosen few. But the Lord declares:
“People will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” (Luke 13:29–30)
God desires that all be saved through the path of hope and healing.
“I am the door; whoever enters through me will be saved.” Knowing, loving, and following Jesus demands effort and perseverance. It is not enough to simply do good; we must also strive to see the good in others. Only then can we journey together through the gates of salvation.
May the Lord help us enter the narrow gate so that we may gain a broader vision of life in our encounter with others.
May God bless you.