21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
22 August 2010
First reading Isaiah 66:18-21
The Lord says this: 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.
Psalm or canticle: Psalm 116:1-2
Second reading Hebrews 12:5-7,11-13
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
There are times when I find it necessary to hurt my kids’ feelings or deny them with something they really want to do just to ensure that they won’t go through the same mistakes and pains we as parents, experienced in the past. It is difficult to see the kids feeling low but I know it will be more difficult for them later on if they grow up with the wrong habits or values in life. Punishment seems inevitable to keep them on the right track. However, can this be kept to a minimum number of instances? I believe yes.
The 2nd reading this Sunday tells us that the Lord corrects everyone He loves. Corrections come in the form of punishment, the way we see it. And in Hebrews 12:11, it says that “punishment reap the peaceful reward of a righteous life”. Again, punishment seems necessary to keep us on the right track and be able to enter that narrow door to heaven.
But should we wait for punishment to correct our ways? The Bible is so rich with so many lessons that we can learn from, like the experiences of those who came before us, and is complete with prescriptions on how to live a life pleasing to God. If we just follow what the Bible says, how God wants us to live then, maybe we don’t need to experience many or any punishments at all. We have the opportunity to start right, to live righteously and avoid the pains of punishment. Let us remember that the kind and quantity of corrections from the Lord lies within our hands. If we faithfully live according to His ways, corrections from Him won’t be necessary.
Father, please continue to guide us in all our ways and keep us on the right path leading to that narrow door to heaven. In Jesus name, with the Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen.
There will be no corrections if there are no wrongdoings. Start right, live righteously!
Do The Supernatural
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