This week, the Twentieth-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, the First Reading from the Prophet Isaiah is like a reading you may hear at Epiphany: “I come to gather nations of every language; they shall come and see my glory. I will set a sign among them…they shall bring all your brothers and sisters from all the nations as an offering to the Lord, on horses, and in chariots, in carts, upon mules and on dromedaries…” Salvation is for all and is all inclusive. We hear in the Gospel today though, that the door to heaven, however, is as narrow as the cross…
In the Second Reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews, he talks about enduring our trials as a discipline. He says that discipline seems “not a cause for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.” In other words, we are told always to take up our cross, accepting our “discipline” and to follow Him. “So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet…” The ways we must act as professed Christians are not easy! That is why in the Gospel today Jesus tells us that to enter heaven we must enter through the “narrow gate.” Although all are welcome to choose this way, not all will enter.
I always laugh when I hear “St. Peter at the gate” jokes. You know them, they are all about the difficulty of getting into heaven and usually involve a series of questions. Today we hear some serious questions from Jesus about entering heaven. We know that the work for salvation is not easy, that is the point about the narrow gate. This life we have is not a rehearsal for the real work we must do now; it is the now. In every moment of life we are given the grace and the opportunity to let the Spirit work within us and to choose for the Kingdom. Every moment counts… Will Jesus know you when you knock on heaven’s gate?
The Kingdom is all about choices for love and service. The summer season is winding down, now is the time to sign up for something! There are many ministries available to you in service of your Community—I am always looking for a few more good men and women for the St. Aidan Music Ministry. We rehearse and give our time, talent and treasure now, because we know this life is no rehearsal for our future in heaven. I suspect that the complacent, lazy and self-satisfied will have trouble squeezing through that narrow gate. Food for thought—and prayer.
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
In the Second Reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews, he talks about enduring our trials as a discipline. He says that discipline seems “not a cause for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.” In other words, we are told always to take up our cross, accepting our “discipline” and to follow Him. “So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet…” The ways we must act as professed Christians are not easy! That is why in the Gospel today Jesus tells us that to enter heaven we must enter through the “narrow gate.” Although all are welcome to choose this way, not all will enter.
I always laugh when I hear “St. Peter at the gate” jokes. You know them, they are all about the difficulty of getting into heaven and usually involve a series of questions. Today we hear some serious questions from Jesus about entering heaven. We know that the work for salvation is not easy, that is the point about the narrow gate. This life we have is not a rehearsal for the real work we must do now; it is the now. In every moment of life we are given the grace and the opportunity to let the Spirit work within us and to choose for the Kingdom. Every moment counts… Will Jesus know you when you knock on heaven’s gate?
The Kingdom is all about choices for love and service. The summer season is winding down, now is the time to sign up for something! There are many ministries available to you in service of your Community—I am always looking for a few more good men and women for the St. Aidan Music Ministry. We rehearse and give our time, talent and treasure now, because we know this life is no rehearsal for our future in heaven. I suspect that the complacent, lazy and self-satisfied will have trouble squeezing through that narrow gate. Food for thought—and prayer.
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
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