Discipline to end Division

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.

Enter through the Door

 

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 

Discipline and Rejection

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to be open to experiencing the grace of God in our attention to discipline and our acceptance of rejection.

Rejection and Truth

The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews contains warnings against rejecting God’s Grace.

* [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.)

Psalm 103 is a thanksgiving for God’s Goodness.

* [Psalm 103] The speaker in this hymn begins by praising God for personal benefits (Ps 103:1–5), then moves on to God’s mercy toward all the people (Ps 103:6–18). Even sin cannot destroy that mercy (Ps 103:11–13), for the eternal God is well aware of the people’s human fragility (Ps 103:14–18). The psalmist invites the heavenly beings to join in praise (Ps 103:19–22). (Psalms, PSALM 103 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Mark presents the Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth.

* [6:1] His native place: the Greek word patris here refers to Nazareth (cf. Mk 1:9; Lk 4:16, 23–24) though it can also mean native land.

* [6:2–6] See note on Mt 13:54–58.

* [6:3] Is he not the carpenter?: no other gospel calls Jesus a carpenter. Some witnesses have “the carpenter’s son,” as in Mt 13:55. Son of Mary: contrary to Jewish custom, which calls a man the son of his father, this expression may reflect Mark’s own faith that God is the Father of Jesus (Mk 1:1, 11; 8:38; 13:32; 14:36). The brother of James…Simon: in Semitic usage, the terms “brother,” “sister” are applied not only to children of the same parents, but to nephews, nieces, cousins, half-brothers, and half-sisters; cf. Gn 14:16; 29:15; Lv 10:4. While one cannot suppose that the meaning of a Greek word should be sought in the first place from Semitic usage, the Septuagint often translates the Hebrew ’āh by the Greek word adelphos, “brother,” as in the cited passages, a fact that may argue for a similar breadth of meaning in some New Testament passages. For instance, there is no doubt that in v. 17, “brother” is used of Philip, who was actually the half-brother of Herod Antipas. On the other hand, Mark may have understood the terms literally; see also 3:31–32; Mt 12:46; 13:55–56; Lk 8:19; Jn 7:3, 5. The question of meaning here would not have arisen but for the faith of the church in Mary’s perpetual virginity.

* [6:4] A prophet is not without honor except…in his own house: a saying that finds parallels in other literatures, especially Jewish and Greek, but without reference to a prophet. Comparing himself to previous Hebrew prophets whom the people rejected, Jesus intimates his own eventual rejection by the nation especially in view of the dishonor his own relatives had shown him (Mk 3:21) and now his townspeople as well.

* [6:5] He was not able to perform any mighty deed there: according to Mark, Jesus’ power could not take effect because of a person’s lack of faith. (Mark, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)

Barbara Dilly comments that our forgetfulness causes us to wander from our faith. And when that happens, we lose our courage and become weak.

In faith, our struggles can strengthen us to share the grace of God in our own places and amid our own kin. We can do this by sowing seeds of peace and hope in enduring our own trails as disciplines. And while we ourselves will probably not be performing miracles by doing this, our faith can open the door for the Spirit to come in and do its work. But first we must believe that this is possible. Our faith is the path to find joy in our pain. So today I pray that we will not forget the Lord’s compassion and not lose faith in all the benefits of his everlasting kindness. And I pray that we can all endure our trials as discipline. (Dilly, 2025)

Don Schwager quotes “Distinguishing God's power and our faith,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).

"And perhaps, as in the case of metallic substances there exists in some a natural attraction toward some other thing, as in the magnet for iron, and in naphtha for fire, so there is an attraction in such faith toward the divine power according to what Jesus said: 'If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, 'Move to another place,' and it shall be moved' (Matthew 17:20). Matthew and Mark wished to present the all-surpassing value of that divine power as a power that works even in those who do not believe. But they did not deny that grace works even more powerfully among those who have faith. So it seems to me that they accurately said not that the Lord did not do any mighty works because of their unbelief, but that he did not do many there (Mark 6:5). Mark does not flatly say that he could do no mighty work there at all, and stop at that point, but added, 'except that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk and healed them' (Mark 6:5). Thus the power in him overcame even their unbelief." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 10.19) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15 comments that we all know what it’s like to be beset by a particular sin that always seems to trip us up. The “discipline of the Lord” comes in when we humbly acknowledge, once more, our weakness and turn to him for mercy (Hebrews 12:5).

These words from the Letter to the Hebrews are meant to be an encouragement to us, to strengthen our “drooping hands” and “weak knees” (12:12). The truth is that we will always face the struggle against sin. Those who went before us did, too. But be encouraged! As you allow the Lord to train you in this way, you will become a witness of healing, peace, and righteousness. You will show the world what a child of God looks like!

“Lord, I welcome your work of ‘discipline’ in my life. Help me take up the struggle against sin so that I can become a more faithful child of God.” (Meditation on Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the role of discipline in the teaching in Hebrews to develop trust and a desire for purification as we seek peace with everyone and unity in community. The understanding of “brothers and sisters” of Jesus is different among Catholic, Orthodox, and some Protestant Christians. Friar Jude reminds us that we need to accept growth and we face the Cross to know the truth about faith.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, identifies the elusive nature of prophetic leadership.

There are plenty of prophets among us now in every church and society, and it is vitally important that we listen to them, support them, and protect them. Often, they are not formally aligned with religion, yet they are deeply influenced by its deepest values, like the “heroes” CNN celebrates each year, or those who work tirelessly for women’s rights, children’s rights, and human rights without much notice or reward. I deliberately do not begin to name them specifically, because there are so many of them. Like the Suffering Servant of Isaiah, they 

Do not cry out or shout aloud, 

or make their voice heard in the streets; 

But faithfully they bring true justice 

refusing to be wavered or crushed, 

until true justice is established on earth. 

—Isaiah 42:2–4 (Rohr, n.d.)

We ponder the role of discipline and rejection in our journey to live out our Baptismal anointing as prophet and companion of Christ.

References

Dilly, B. (2025, February 5). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Retrieved February 5, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/020525.html 

Hebrews, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 5, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/12?4 

Mark, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 5, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/6?1 

Meditation on Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved February 5, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/02/05/1195851/ 

Psalms, PSALM 103 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 5, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/103?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Prophetic Leadership. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved February 5, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/prophetic-leadership/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Marveled because of Their Unbelief. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 5, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=feb5