“Jews Mourning the Exile in Babylon” by Eduard Bendemann (CC via Wikimedia)
21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Isaiah 66:18-21; Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13; Luke 13:22-30
The Book of Isaiah provides the first reading for this weekend. Isaiah is a fascinating book of Scripture, covering a long period of Hebrew history. Its early chapters deal with events and conditions in the southern Hebrew kingdom of Judah, before the kingdom’s conquest by the mighty Babylonian army.
Then, as the book progresses, it tells of the plight of the Hebrews taken to Babylon, the imperial capital, where they and their descendants languished for four generations.
At last, the Hebrews were allowed to return, but the homeland that they found was hardly the “land flowing with milk and honey.” It was sterile, lifeless, and bleak. It must have been difficult not to succumb to cynicism or outright rejection of God. Why did God lead them to this awful place after all that they have experienced in Babylon? How was this God’s confirmation of the Covenant?
This dreary situation clearly appears in this weekend’s reading, but, nevertheless, the prophet unceasingly and without any doubt calls the people to reaffirm their devotion to God. God always will rescue them and care for them.
For its second reading, the church presents a reading from the Epistle to the Hebrews. In the late part of the first century, when this epistle was composed, the plight of the Jews was not good. In 70 A.D., the Jews had risen up against the Romans and paid a dreadful price for their audacity.
Things were as bad as they were in the days of the last part of Isaiah, from which came the first reading.
Even so, as the prophets so often had encouraged the people in the past, the author of Hebrews assured the people of the first century that God would protect them and, after all the trials, would lead them to life eternal, in Christ Jesus, the lamb of God.
St. Luke’s Gospel furnishes the last reading. It is a somber reading, indeed a warning. Indeed, life is eternal. God lives and reigns in an eternal kingdom. Jesus has the key to the gate, but all who are true to God, and who obey God’s law, will be admitted to this wonderful kingdom. Others will not.
Reflection
For several weeks, the church, either directly or indirectly, has taught us in the weekend readings at Mass that earthly life is not the only experience of living for humans. Life does not end with earthly death. Life is eternal. After life on earth, in time, eternity awaits everyone, for the good, heaven, or for the bad, everlasting misery and remorse.
God offers us every opportunity, and every aid, in our way to reach heaven. He could show us no greater love than to give us Jesus as our Redeemer and companion as we move toward heaven. The Son of God, one with the Father in divine eternity and power, forgives us, strengthens us, guides us, restores us, and finally places us at the banquet table of heaven.
Humans, in a word, therefore, create their own destiny. They can ignore or outright reject God’s love, so lavishly given in Jesus, and bring upon themselves the consequences, eternal pain. They choose everlasting despair and pain.
The saved choose to be with God. It is that simple.
God drags no one, kicking and screaming, into heaven, and virtue is not always easy to achieve, but God opens wide the gate and shows us the way, helping us along when we stumble.
God mercifully and lovingly assists us through Jesus. Jesus is our teacher. In Jesus, and through Jesus, our sins are forgiven. In Jesus, the just are empowered and enlightened.
While God gives us free will, therefore, we are sustained, strengthened, and shown the way.
