Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Feast of the Apostle Bartholomew of Cana of Galilee. His body is kept in the church of St. Bartholomew on Tiber Island, in Rome, which has become the memorial place for the "New Martyrs." Remembrance of Jerry Essan Masslo, a South African refugee who came to Italy and was welcomed by the Community of Sant'Egidio. He was killed by robbers in 1989. With him we remember all refugees.

First Reading

Isaiah 66,18-21

I am coming to gather every nation and every language. They will come to witness my glory. I shall give them a sign and send some of their survivors to the nations: to Tarshish, Put, Lud, Meshech, Tubal and Javan, to the distant coasts and islands that have never heard of me or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory to the nations, and from all the nations they will bring all your brothers as an offering to Yahweh, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules and on camels, to my holy mountain, Jerusalem, Yahweh says, like Israelites bringing offerings in clean vessels to Yahweh's house. And some of them I shall make into priests and Levites, Yahweh says.

Psalmody

Psalm 116

Antiphon

Let all peoples praise the Lord.

O praise the Lord, all you nations,
acclaim him all you peoples!

Strong is his love for us;
his is faithful for ever.

Second Reading

Hebrews 12,5-7.11-13

Have you forgotten that encouraging text in which you are addressed as sons? My son, do not scorn correction from the Lord, do not resent his training, for the Lord trains those he loves, and chastises every son he accepts. Perseverance is part of your training; God is treating you as his sons. Has there ever been any son whose father did not train him? Of course, any discipline is at the time a matter for grief, not joy; but later, in those who have undergone it, it bears fruit in peace and uprightness. So steady all weary hands and trembling knees and make your crooked paths straight; then the injured limb will not be maimed, it will get better instead.

Reading of the Gospel

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Yesterday I was buried with Christ,
today I rise with you who are risen.
With you I was crucified;
remember me, Lord, in your kingdom.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Luke 13,22-30

Through towns and villages he went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem. Someone said to him, 'Sir, will there be only a few saved?' He said to them, 'Try your hardest to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed. 'Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself standing outside knocking on the door, saying, "Lord, open to us," but he will answer, "I do not know where you come from." Then you will start saying, "We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets," but he will reply, "I do not know where you come from; away from me, all evil doers!" 'Then there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrown out. And people from east and west, from north and south, will come and sit down at the feast in the kingdom of God. 'Look, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.'

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Yesterday I was buried with Christ,
today I rise with you who are risen.
With you I was crucified;
remember me, Lord, in your kingdom.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Homily

This Sunday's readings in the liturgy open with a vision of the salvation intended by God, "I am coming to gather all nations and tongues," says the Lord, "and they shall come and shall see my glory" (Is 66:18). We could say that God does not hide his plan for salvation, that is to make all the peoples of the earth into one family. In the Gospel we find a question: "Lord, will only a few be saved?" (13:23). The current thinking of the time was based on the conviction that belonging to the chosen people was sufficient to be a part of the future kingdom. But this question seems to suggest that there is not a granted destiny. Jesus agrees but goes further. He does not answer the questioner directly but instead speaks to all who saying, "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able." The door is the Gospel. The central question posed by Jesus regards the urgency to follow the Gospel. Those who welcome the Gospel in their hearts are pruned from their feelings of indifference, selfishness, and hatred. We know by experience the door of selfishness is wide. And Letter to the Hebrews rightly reminds correction, the correction of our heart and our behaviours. It is true that "Discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness" (v. 11). Such fruit consists in the joy of being able to enter the great hall prepared by the Lord, where "people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God" (Lk 13:29).