Scripture readings, reflection

Facebooktwittermail

By Fr. Andrew Kelly
TWENTY FIRST SUNDAY ORDINAL TIME – AUGUST 25, 2013
In Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 13:22-30) as Jesus leads the believing disciples to Jerusalem for death and resurrection, Jesus teaches: “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.”
The “narrow door” is the discipline of living Jesus’ words and deeds of radical self-surrender and self-emptying in the believing disciples’ every word and deed.
If the discipline is ignored the believing disciples may discover that at the end of Jesus’ journey the “narrow door” will become the shut and locked door barring no further admittance.
The shocked believers cry out: “Every Sunday we did the obligatory Scriptures and always ate and drank your body and blood.”
The Lord will declare: “I do not know where you come from…!”
The Lord is saying: “You may have listened, ate and drank. But you never allowed my word, body and blood to penetrate. You never entered the narrow door of transformation and conversion.”
Sunday is decision day for believers. Will believers “strive to enter through the narrow door?” Or risk hearing Jesus’ damming words: “I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!”
(Father Andrew Kelly is a retired priest of the Diocese of Davenport.)

Scripture Readings for Aug. 25 to Sept. 1
Sunday
Is 66:18-21
Heb 12:5-7, 11-13
Lk 13:22-30
Monday
1 Thes 1:1-5, 8b-10
Mt 23:13-22
Tuesday
1 Thes 2:1-8
Mt 23:23-26
Wednesday
1 Thes 2:9-13
Mt 23:27-32
Thursday
1 Thes 3:7-13
Mk 6:17-29
Friday
1 Thes 4:1-8
Mt 25:1-13
Saturday
1 Thes 4:9-11
Mt 25:14-30
Sunday
Sir 3:17-18, 20, 28-29
Heb 12:18-19, 22-24a
Lk 14:1, 7-14


Support The Catholic Messenger’s mission to inform, educate and inspire the faithful of the Diocese of Davenport – and beyond! Subscribe to the print and/or e-edition, or make a one-time donation, today!

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Facebooktwittermail
Posted on