Judgment Day. Christian teaching tells us that at the end of our lives, or at the end of days, we will be called to account for everything we’ve done (or not done) in this life. This has led to some very powerful sermons (particularly from our Protestant brothers and sisters) on the need to repent and follow the Lord. While we Catholics tend to shy away from this kind of fire-and-brimstone preaching (seeking instead to focus on God’s ever-present mercy), the truth remains that not everyone is going to be welcomed into paradise:
The Word for the 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time
Isaiah 66:18-21
Psalm 117:1, 2
Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13
Luke 13:22-30
Our first reading comes from the final chapter of the book of the prophet Isaiah. The reading itself seems pleasant enough, a story of bringing the nations together under the Lord. What we miss, however, is the larger context from which this passage comes, which is from Isaiah’s “Final Judgment” discourse. Note that the passage says, “I will send fugitives to the nations…” In this case, these “fugitives” are those who have escaped the Lord’s wrath against those who do not follow his command, a reminder that what happened to Jerusalem under the Babylonians can happen again. But these fugitives will go far and wide to gather in those who do believe, making them priests and Levites, leaders of a new chosen people that include all who proclaim God’s glory. This call to action is echoed in our Psalm as we sing, “Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.”
Our gospel from Luke continues our journey with Jesus toward Jerusalem. As he is traveling someone asks if only a few will be saved. But as is typical, Jesus doesn’t give him a straightforward answer. Instead, he tells him that not everyone will be strong enough, that there will be those who say they know him but instead will be left out where there will be “wailing and grinding of teeth.” For you see, the man asking the question is like us – good law-abiding citizens who follow religious teachings, wanting to get some affirmation that they will see paradise. But remember last week’s gospel where Jesus said he came to stir things up, wanting to break us out of our complacency. Jesus isn’t going to say to this fellow, “Sure, you’re OK.” What you did yesterday isn’t what he wants to know. Instead, Jesus wants to know what you’re going to do for him today, and tomorrow, and the next day. This isn’t to say that what you did yesterday wasn’t good, but that’s the past. What are you doing for Jesus now? What are you going to do for Jesus tomorrow?
Our second reading, a continuation of our journey through the letter to the Hebrews, sums this up another way. The author teaches that, “For whom the Lord loves, he disciplines.” All relationships come with some element of heartache. All parent-child relationships, like our relationship to the Father, includes some things that we don’t find pleasant or convenient but in the end help build character and perseverance. To take what we learned today and build on that for tomorrow – To never stop growing. To never stop doing better than the day before.
Final thoughts:
Jesus came to challenge the status-quo. To shake us out of our complacency. To stir us to action. The Second Vatican Council taught us that we need to be active participants in our faith – not just watching on the sidelines, but getting into the game. Our readings this week shouldn’t cause us to be afraid or discouraged. Instead they should be reminders to always push ourselves forward – to do better, to rouse us to action. Does God expect perfection? No. Is God willing to forgive us our sins? YES. But God also wants us to learn from our mistakes so we can move on and do better. The past is the past, not only for our sins but for our accomplishments. What have you done for God today? What have you done for your neighbor today? This is the ongoing challenge of the Christian life. But the beauty is that we don’t travel this road alone. God and our neighbors are with us – we are meant to go on this journey together.
Who speaks for the Lord? Do you have to be a prophet? A priest? A bishop? The Pope? What about you? The answer, according to our readings this week, is “whomever God calls,” and that could be you. The Word for the 26tth Sunday of Ordinary Time Numbers 11:25-29 Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14 James 5:1-6 Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 Our first reading comes from the Book of Numbers. This book is a continuation of the Exodus story, from the point where they leave the Sinai (after receiving the Law) to the point where they are ready to enter the Promised Land. The book gives us some history of these years interspersed with sections of legal codes. This Sunday’s passage deals with the commissioning the elders, those 70 individuals chosen by Moses to receive some of the Spirit so that they may prophesy (preach) among the people. But during this time there were two men, Eldad and Medad, who were not with the group at the tent, but who also recei...
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