The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to blend discipline, correction, and universalism in our understanding of Jesus' invitation of love to all people.
In the reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah God Gathers the Nations
* [66:18–21] God summons the neighboring nations to Zion and from among them will send some to far distant lands to proclaim the divine glory. All your kin: Jews in exile. The “gathering of the people and the nations” is an eschatological motif common in the prophetic tradition; cf. 56:8. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 66 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 117 acknowledges God’s supremacy.
* [Psalm 117] This shortest of hymns calls on the nations to acknowledge God’s supremacy. The supremacy of Israel’s God has been demonstrated to them by the people’s secure existence, which is owed entirely to God’s gracious fidelity. (Psalms, PSALM 117 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews proclaims the affectionate correction of the Lord.
* [12:1–13] Christian life is to be inspired not only by the Old Testament men and women of faith (Heb 12:1) but above all by Jesus. As the architect of Christian faith, he had himself to endure the cross before receiving the glory of his triumph (Heb 12:2). Reflection on his sufferings should give his followers courage to continue the struggle, if necessary even to the shedding of blood (Heb 12:3–4). Christians should regard their own sufferings as the affectionate correction of the Lord, who loves them as a father loves his children. (Hebrews, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke presents The Narrow Door; Salvation and Rejection.*
* [13:22–30] These sayings of Jesus follow in Luke upon the parables of the kingdom (Lk 13:18–21) and stress that great effort is required for entrance into the kingdom (Lk 13:24) and that there is an urgency to accept the present opportunity to enter because the narrow door will not remain open indefinitely (Lk 13:25). Lying behind the sayings is the rejection of Jesus and his message by his Jewish contemporaries (Lk 13:26) whose places at table in the kingdom will be taken by Gentiles from the four corners of the world (Lk 13:29). Those called last (the Gentiles) will precede those to whom the invitation to enter was first extended (the Jews). See also Lk 14:15–24. (Luke, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)
Rev. Jim Caime, SJ, asks what do these readings say to us, as citizens, as voters, as members of a wounded and divided nation?
They challenge us to ask:
Are we creating systems that heal or harm?
Policies that welcome or walls that exclude?
Are we protecting comfort—or choosing compassion?
It’s not enough to say, “We go to church. We know the language.”
The question is: have we let Jesus change us?
Have we made space for others at the table?
Music is an important part of my spirituality.
If you’d like to continue reflecting, I offer this song:
You Can Do This Hard Thing - Carrie Newcomer (Caime, 2025)
Don Schwager quotes “To enter the narrow door,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"'Wide is the door, and broad the way that brings down many to destruction.' What are we to understand by its broadness? ...A stubborn mind will not bow to the yoke of the law [the commandments of God]. This life is cursed and relaxed in all carelessness. Thrusting from it the divine law and completely unmindful of the sacred commandments, wealth, vices, scorn, pride and the empty imagination of earthly pride spring from it. Those who would enter in by the narrow door must withdraw from all these things, be with Christ and keep the festival with him."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 99) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 13:22-30 comments that Jesus invited everyone to follow him through that gate of obedient, self-giving love.
So open your heart to Jesus. If the gate feels too narrow, the path too difficult, or your resistance too great, confess your need to the Lord. Ask for his help! He loves you immeasurably. He embraced the cross so that the narrow gate could open wide for you.
“Lord, help me to follow you through the narrow gate.” (Meditation on Luke 13:22-30, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that the Isaiah reading is from Trito-Isaiah. After the Babylonian exile, the Israelites had returned with a universalism that recognized that God was of everyone. People could be brought to God by their example and a change in approach to the pagan people. Some would be priests and balance between selection and universality. Discipline in Hebrews is good for the child and discipline can purify our motives. Include suffering as an opportunity to cause us to hold on to God all the more. Strive to enter the narrow gate. It is difficult to die to self. Many may find God does not know them. They go through the motions but not in their heart. Friar Jude reminds us that Luke writes a Gospel for gentiles and Jesus teaching is intended for everyone.
Father Richard Rohr, OFM, reflects on how his commitment to Christ and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit have continually helped him recognize God in other religious traditions. Father Richard comments that “going deep in the Christian religion of my birth has enabled me to see the same Spirit and love in other religions as well.”
I realized that Indigenous peoples had contemplative prayer long before we Franciscans ever appeared.
The rediscovery of Christian contemplation opened my eyes to Buddhists and Sufis—their teachings and practitioners. Buddhism taught me the phenomenology of perception—what’s going on in our brains. Every world religion at its mature level discovers some forms of practice to free us from our addictive mind, which we take as normal. Starting in the 1960s, our increased interaction with Eastern religions in general, and Buddhism in particular, helped us recognize and rediscover our own very ancient Christian contemplative tradition. The Sufis’ deep love of mysticism, especially as expressed by their poets Rumi and Hafiz, often captures the stirrings of my own heart.
My latest discovery was Hinduism, which is considered the oldest world religion. In the early 1980s, I gave a retreat in Nepal. Between talks I would just walk the old streets, go into temples, and try to remain invisible. I remember these lovely Indian women coming in so gracefully, wearing saris, and paying no attention to anything else except perhaps the flame or the oil they were holding. With what reverence they would bow! What do we think they’re bowing to except God, the Mystery? Like the wind, the Spirit blows where it will (John 3:8). (Rohr, n.d.)
We seek the guidance of the Spirit to be open to correction of our bias and prejudice as we work to accept the divine discipline that illuminates the path of both selection and universality.
References
Caime, J. (2025, August 23). Daily Reflection August 24, 2025 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved August 24, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-august-24-2025
Hebrews, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 24, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/12?5
Isaiah, CHAPTER 66 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 24, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/66?18
Luke, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 24, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/13?22
Meditation on Luke 13:22-30. (n.d.). The Word Among Us. Retrieved August 24, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/?utm_content=buffer5c902&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Psalms, PSALM 117 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 24, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/117?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). An Open Christianity. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 24, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/an-open-christianity/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Do Not Risk Being Shut Out. Retrieved August 24, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=aug24
No comments:
Post a Comment