A Reflection on the Readings of the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 66:18-21
Ps. 117:1, 2 (Mark 16:15)
Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13
Luke 13:22-30
Ps. 117:1, 2 (Mark 16:15)
Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13
Luke 13:22-30
We learn in today's Gospel reading from Luke that Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem where he will meet his destiny. As he travels through the towns and villages teaching the people, even his disciples have no clue what the end will be. As he teaches, people begin to ask questions.
Someone asks: "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" He answered them: "Strive to enter through the narrow gate." (Luke 13: 23-24)
Notice that Jesus does not answer the question directly. Instead, he elevates the discussion to a different level; namely, how can a person enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
What is the narrow gate that Jesus invites us to enter. How do we reach his Kingdom?
We know from another Gospel (Mat.22: 36-40), that we are to love God with our whole heart and soul and mind. And in addition, we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. These are the "greatest commandments" and when we follow them, we fulfill all the other commandments too.
But how do we love our neighbors as ourselves? We have only to look around us and we can see quite easily how we are to follow that command. We are to strive as best we can, to take care of those in need; whether they are hungry or poor or sick or in emotional turmoil or a victim of war or of natural disasters. We are to treat everyone as a brother or sister in the Lord. This is how we would want others to treat us; and so we must do the same for them. This is loving others as we love ourselves.
Following Jesus' commands is not easy. We need to be taught from childhood how to love God and how to care for the needs of others. When we learn these lessons and put them into effect as we grow older and more mature, we also come to realize that obedience to Jesus and his teachings are themselves the narrow gate that we must pass through to reach his Kingdom.
From Isaiah we learn that there is hope for all of us. "Thus says the Lord: I know their works and their thoughts, and I come to gather nations of every language; they shall come and see my glory." (Is. 66:17-18)
Someone asks: "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" He answered them: "Strive to enter through the narrow gate." (Luke 13: 23-24)
Notice that Jesus does not answer the question directly. Instead, he elevates the discussion to a different level; namely, how can a person enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
What is the narrow gate that Jesus invites us to enter. How do we reach his Kingdom?
We know from another Gospel (Mat.22: 36-40), that we are to love God with our whole heart and soul and mind. And in addition, we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. These are the "greatest commandments" and when we follow them, we fulfill all the other commandments too.
But how do we love our neighbors as ourselves? We have only to look around us and we can see quite easily how we are to follow that command. We are to strive as best we can, to take care of those in need; whether they are hungry or poor or sick or in emotional turmoil or a victim of war or of natural disasters. We are to treat everyone as a brother or sister in the Lord. This is how we would want others to treat us; and so we must do the same for them. This is loving others as we love ourselves.
Following Jesus' commands is not easy. We need to be taught from childhood how to love God and how to care for the needs of others. When we learn these lessons and put them into effect as we grow older and more mature, we also come to realize that obedience to Jesus and his teachings are themselves the narrow gate that we must pass through to reach his Kingdom.
From Isaiah we learn that there is hope for all of us. "Thus says the Lord: I know their works and their thoughts, and I come to gather nations of every language; they shall come and see my glory." (Is. 66:17-18)
Labels: ordinary time, sundayreflection
posted by mary ann @ Tuesday, August 24, 2010
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