21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel (Luke 13:22-30), Jesus is asked if many people will be saved. He warns that a place in the Kingdom of God is not a birthright reserved to the Jewish people, nor is it a given exclusively to those who hear him preach. Jesus tells the people, “strive to enter through the narrow gate,” adding that many will not be strong enough. He then adds insult to injury by telling them that outsiders from other nations will enter the Kingdom of God before them.

Throughout salvation history, God has given us opportunity after opportunity to repent and strive again for holiness. People are encouraged to go to Confession and reclaim their Catholic faith. We also acknowledge that our lives in this world are not endless. If we do not strive for holiness in the time we are given, the door will eventually close.

One crucial aspect of striving for holiness is acquiring a sense of discipline. We hear of this kind of discipline in today’s Second Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13). We know that while we are being disciplined, it seems more like pain than like joy. We also know that good parents discipline their children out of love. God loves us as sons and daughters, and therefore disciplines us so that we can make every effort to live in peace and righteousness. We have the opportunity each day of our earthly lives to get to know Jesus, to discipline ourselves and our children, and to strive to enter through the narrow gate. How do we respond to these opportunities?

The finest measure of how well we know Jesus is to examine how well we follow his example and his commands. We are invited to focus in a special way on the seven Corporal Works of Mercy: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick and the imprisoned, and bury the dead. Read Matthew 25:31-46 to understand the importance of these works of mercy, for we will ultimately be judged by how well we have responded to these occasions of need.

This week, reject the temptation toward selfishness by acting on the Corporal Works of Mercy. Decide by yourself, or together with your family, that you will donate to a food bank, give away gently used clothing, or find a way to visit someone who is lonely or ill. Take the opportunity to serve the Kingdom of God now, before it is too late.