Jesus is holding the end of the rope

21st Sunday In Ordinary Time
26 August 2007

First reading Isaiah 66:18 - 21
I am coming to gather the nations of every language. They shall come to witness my glory. I will give them a sign and send some of their survivors to the nations: to Tarshish, Put, Lud, Moshech, Rosh, Tubal, and Javan, to the distant islands that have never heard of me or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory to the nations. As an offering to the Lord they will bring all your brothers, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules, on dromedaries, from all the nations to my holy mountain in Jerusalem, says the Lord, like Israelites bringing oblations in clean vessels to the Temple of the Lord. And of some of them I will make priests and Levites, says the Lord.

Second reading Hebrews 12:5 - 13
Have you forgotten that encouraging text in which you are addressed as sons? My son, when the Lord corrects you, do not treat it lightly; but do not get discouraged when he reprimands you. For the Lord trains the ones that he loves and he punishes all those that he acknowledges as his sons. Suffering is part of your training; God is treating you as his sons. Has there ever been any son whose father did not train him? Of course, any punishment is most painful at the time, and far from pleasant; but later, in those on whom it has been used, it bears fruit in peace and goodness. So hold up your limp arms and steady your trembling knees and smooth out the path you tread; then the injured limb will not be wrenched, it will grow strong again.

Gospel Luke 13:22 - 30
Through towns and villages Jesus went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem. Someone said to him, ‘Sir, will there be only a few saved?’ He said to them, ‘Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.

‘Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself knocking on the door, saying, “Lord, open to us” but he will answer, “I do not know where you come from”. Then you will find yourself saying, “We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets” but he will reply, “I do not know where you come from. Away from me, all you wicked men !”

‘Then there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves turned outside. And men from east and west, from north and south, will come to take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.

‘Yes, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.’

Reflection:
By Anabelle Payod-Balla

The previous Sunday gospels have invited us to be a follower of Jesus, taught us how and what it's like. It seems that the gospels are helping us to be prepared and be ready for what is to come. This Sunday’s Gospel is showing us what it takes and what we will achieve if we succeed in following Jesus’ foot prints.

I was on my way to reach the first peak of my spiritual life when I experienced one of the lowest points of my life. I remember that election day when my brother came to fetch me from the school where I am assigned as a watcher representing PPCRV. It was that day when my youngest sister passed away. It was a very difficult and highly emotional situation for my family because everything was a first. It is our first time to lose a direct member of the family and it is our first time to lose someone in a place where we don’t have any other relatives. We don’t even know the burial process, who to contact and where to bury my sweet little sister. To top it all, we don’t have the money to fund the whole ceremony. We were tested, went through one of those purification process.

God didn’t let us go through it alone though. I felt His hand working on us, through some of our friends and church mates. We were on solid ground with a strong hold from God.

As followers of Jesus, expect to have trials to come our way. They are God’s way to purify us and make us stronger and wiser. The Second Reading is telling us, “Do not be discouraged if the Lord punishes you. For the Lord corrects those he loves and chastises everyone he accepts as a son.” Without discipline, we may end up on the wrong road. Without trials, life will be meaningless with no wins to celebrate and no lessons to learn.

Like most of the saints, let’s do our best to enter the narrow door. We are already given the tools and help we need for a sure win- Jesus, Holy Spirit, gift of Faith, and the love of our Father in heaven. It’s now up to us how we move forward.

Let’s persevere; don’t ever break away from God’s hold. Look at trials as one step closer to God. Be strong, be convinced, and take the risks for it is truly worth it. As the First Reading says, “Yahweh will reward the survivors. They will witness His glory and will perform wonderful things among them.”

Father, thank you for helping us become better followers through the trials that come our way. Please continue to hold our hand and direct us to the right path. We hope to see Your face and walk in Your loving embrace. Amen.

Jesus is holding the end of the rope. Hang on and keep going until you reach heaven