21st Sunday of Ordinary Time: August 22, 2010

("My thoughts are not your thoughts" please leave your own ideas in the comment box)


The Narrow Door -
Chosen by God, encouraged in our call, challenged by the Gospel

 Is 66: 18-21


Faithfulness is not really prized in our world. Everything is up for grabs. Life long commitment to marriage, to ordained or consecrated service are no longer viewed as absolute or necessary by many. It is really sad when you come across a man or woman that you have journeyed with towards marriage to hear that not too long after the great day, they have separated from their spouse. I often think of the beauty of the celebration and the power of the words  spoken before the Altar. Forever does not seem to exist, with all the personal tragedy that goes with it.    The glory of the Lord is revealed in his faithfulness. As we celebrated in last weeks feast of the Assumption the faithfulness of God to his word, we should take heart that he has chosen us as his own. He brings us back rejoicing.  We have been chosen and called. 


The last line of the reading says "and some of them I will make priests and levites, says the Lord." Those of us who have been ordained for ministry; by our faithfulness are to give witness to faithfulness of God. Despite the challenges and criticisms, faithfulness 'will win you your life.'  As the Liturgy says "for the joy that lay in the future, He willingly went to the Cross". God stands by his chosen ones. His chosen can only relay on his strength.

Heb 12: 5-7, 11-12


"Have you forgotten that encouraging text in which you are addressed as sons?" Forgotten! The truth is most of the regulars that will hear you preach will have never heard the Good News in their lives! A dramatic assertion? I am reminded of Chesterton being asked why has Christianity failed. He responded, that it has not failed, it had not even been tried yet. Often we are not on fire with our faith.  The Word we proclaim, the life promised in the Sacraments, the wonder of being a child of God, not just a produce of nature is so spectacular it is always new. There will never be an earthly time when the Gospel will not speak to the depths of human reality.  When we know, or begin to know  this, everything should change. Obedience to God comes after he revels himself. The Law was given after the Exodus.


But what about suffering? Why do we have to always plough head on into suffering and accept it?People on the outside laugh at this. The Christian understanding of suffering is rooted in the fact that we live in a far from perfect word. Christ has redeemed us, by his own suffering; and the promise of a 'world made new.' Our faith is real world stuff. Cartoon book religion is fine when we are young; but as soon as the reality of life hits in it will be rejected. That is why we preach Christ, and Christ crucified. 


The last line of the reading gives hope to us all: "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. 


Lk 13: 22-30


"Lord, open to us" "I do not know where you come from." "Will only a few be saved?"  "The last shall be first and the first shall be last"


The Gospel does not beat around the bush. If we have set our hand to the plough and have taken up the challenge of following the Lord, then we cannot hope to escape the chalice He had to drink. The road is long and narrow. 


Did you ever hear of Lough Derg? For those of you not familiar with the place it is an ancient centre of pilgrimage in Co Donegal in Ireland. The pilgrimage lasts three days, including fasting, walking around in your bear feet and countless prayers. [You really have to experience it for any word picture to do justice.] There is one part of the pilgrimage that is most challenging: the vigil. You literally keep vigil with the Lord , staying awake from 9.30 pm to 9.30 pm the following day. The night is long and often cold and wet, and even the interior of the Basilica where you spend the night in prayer, walking in your bare feet, trying to avoid the corners of oak pews and marble steps, lacks comfort. But the night passes, as every night passes, and the dawn and new day makes the vigil a little less difficult. The final goal is rest; and bed never feels as good as it does after a Lough Derg ordeal. Everything moves on; the hymn Immortal Invisible says: "We blossom and flourish like leaves on the tree, then wither and perish, but noth' changes thee."  Thinking of these readings the theme of God's faithfulness and constancy keeps coming to mind. The road may be long and difficult, still we travel on through the winding paths of life. Sometimes we feel like giving up, but we are not alone. The People of God, the Church throughout the world, as one people of faith move on in faith towards the rest of the Father's house. 


To be an authentic follower of Jesus Christ involves rejecting much of what the spirit of the world would have us accept. A Catholic cannot do what ever they feel like doing. Such a horrid suggestion! The world tells us that the yoke that is easy and the burden that is light is in fact a mill stone, drowning us is rules and out dated mores. "Lord to whom shall we go, you have the message of eternal life."  True freedom of the children of God breaks the fetters of sin and selfishness. The broad and the wide leads to emptiness and nothing. The Way of Shepherd through the valley of darkness is the only sure way to green pastures. Anything else is a lie. 


"The last will be first and the first last . " Be careful where you put yourself in the line!!