August 24, 2025・21st Sunday in Ordinary Time ( C )

Isaiah 66.18-21・Psalm 117.1+2・Hebrew 12.5-7,11-13・Luke 13.22-30

Today`s readings talk about God`s intention for the human race. In His unconditional love and deep mercy, God wants all to gather and come to Him. God Himself gathers people from all nations to share in His glory. As God gathers people, there are some who will take roles in serving Him (spreading His Word to all), and become priests and Levites designated to more specific roles in the Holy Temple.

We have known about Jesus talking about two contrasting ways of life. There is a narrow gate, and there is a wide gate. The narrow gate represents a genuine path of life which means passing through is not so easy compared to a wide gate. The narrow gate leads to true life while the wide gate leads to destruction. Jesus, in our Gospel today urges us to choose the narrow gate. We, His people, would love to choose the narrow gate. It is Jesus reminder that even though we intend to choose and enter into the narrow gate, it is not easy as we may think, and therefore many fail to enter into it. That is why Jesus encourages each to avoid a somehow “easy-go-lucky” kind of life. We may not know that the master of the house closes the gate, and therefore too late even if we will try once more to knock on the door.

Few weeks ago, we have reflected on the Word of God (Bible reading) that talks about persistence in prayer. It is God`s love (generosity) that tells us that anyone who ask will be given, anyone who seek will be able to find, and anyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Indeed it is how we understand the abundance of God`s love and tender care. For today`s deepening of our reflection, we maintain our understanding of God`s abundant love to His people. God loves us so much so that just like a father to his children, He (God) disciplines His children. To be able to enter into the narrow gate that leads to true life/ eternal life, we are called to endure trials. In this context we will understand endurance as discipline.

The letter to the Hebrews (the second reading today) talks about how God disciplines those He loves. God`s Discipline is always attributed with, and requires, effort, steady heart (determination), and of course, trust in Him. There are some who first desired and chose to enter into the narrow gate but because of lack of endurance/patience and therefore lack of discipline   experience a lot of delay. Jesus makes us aware of the reality that some who are last who will be first, and there are some who are first who will be last.

May we continue to understand that God`s discipline is part of His Love. We are being brought to discipline because we are loved. God teaches and helps us grow stronger through daily life`s experiences (the narrow gate)...in faith and trust in Him.