The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, August 22, 2004
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today’s Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 66:18-21
Psalm 117:1-2
Hebrews 12:5-7,11-13
Luke 13:22-30

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

Today’s readings and Gospel tell us quite a bit about God’s plan for the salvation of mankind. First of all, the gift of salvation is intended to extend far beyond peoples and places that were thought to be the exclusive recipients of God’s grace; and His praises will be sung not just on the lips of those who might be considered "shoo-ins," but also by those who appear by some, to be unseemly.

The second theme is that human suffering is often associated with those who seek entrance to the Kingdom of God, not because God enjoys seeing mankind suffer, but because in intimation of Christ who suffered on our behalf, many have been given the grace to share in His suffering. And finally we're told that the narrow path to God is accessible to all, but many will refuse to take it.

In light of these Gospel truths we have the opportunity to not only cooperate with God and His plan, but to assist others to do the same. It's part of our responsibilities as Christians to extend the Good News of God’s Kingdom everywhere, to those who seem most unsuited, to those who are suffering and to those who are frightened by the narrow path. That's our responsibility, that's our privilege.

If we do our part, we need never fear that God will say “Go away, I do not know you” but will recognize us and will open wide the gates of paradise to us because of the likeness we bear to His Son.

- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

____________________

These meditations are also available by email subscription
©1986-2004 The Way, The Truth, The Life

posted by joachim at 4:34 AM