Isaiah 66:18-21; Psalm 116 (117). R/ Mk 16:15; Hebrews 12:5-7. 11-13
Luke 13:22-30
Theme: PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD’S LOVE AND
FAITHFULNESS TO ALL THE NATIONS
1. Today is the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Liturgical Year C. The readings today tell us about the salvation of all the nations! The gospel today tells us that the self-righteous Jews rejected Jesus and they were not saved, but the pagans/Gentiles whom the self-righteous Jews considered sinners accepted Jesus and they were saved! Thus the pagans who were last will be first to enter the kingdom of God and the Jews who were first will be last to enter the kingdom of God!
Salvation is not about the Law, nor even about the God of the Law, but salvation is about faith in Jesus Christ! Faith in the God of love who first loved us; and loving one another as he has loved us! Thus we read in the gospel today:
“‘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 turned outside. And men from east and west, from north and south, will come to take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.
‘Yes, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.’” (Lk 13:28-30; SM)
2. The first reading follows the theme of the gospel. The first reading tells us about the salvation of the nations; and the nations which have been saved, in their turn become missionaries to proclaim the glory of God to other nations, so that other nations will also be saved! The other nations mentioned here include present day Spain, Africa, Greece and Asia Minor. (Craghan)
The first reading also tells us that even the Jews in exile will also be saved. They will be brought back to Jerusalem by the pagan nations. This reminds us of what Saint Paul says in chapter eleven of the letter to the Romans; that even the Jews who rejected Jesus and crucified him will also be saved in the end!
Finally, the first reading tells us that some of the pagans will even become priests!
3. The responsorial psalm follows the theme of the first reading. The responsorial psalm tells us that all the nations praise God for his love and faithfulness. The responsorial psalm has only two short stanzas. In fact it has only two verses. It is the shortest of the 150 psalms of the Psalter! The first stanza tells us that all the nations praise God. The second stanza tells us that God’s love for us is strong and his faithfulness is for ever. Thus we read in the second stanza:
“Strong is his love for us; he is faithful for ever.” (Ps 116 (117): 2; SM)
More importantly, the responsorial psalm tells us to proclaim the good news of his love and faithfulness to all the nations, so that all the nations may believe and be saved! Thus the response of the responsorial psalm:
“Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.” (Mk 16:15; SM)
4. Incidentally, the second reading tells us that “suffering” does not mean that God does not love us. In fact “suffering” is the love of God experienced by a sinner for his conversion and salvation! As a father punishes his son for his own good because he loves him, so also God gives us “suffering” for our own good because he loves us! Thus we read in the second reading:
“For the Lord trains the ones that he loves and he punishes all those that he acknowledges as his sons. Suffering is part of your training; God is treating you as his sons. Has there ever been any son whose father did not train him?” (Heb 12:6-7; SM)
5. Today in the Eucharist, we celebrate the death and resurrection Jesus Christ, and we eat his body and drink his blood, and the Risen Lord will give us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will help us proclaim the good news of God’s love and faithfulness to all the nations, so that all the nations may believe and be saved!
Amen!
Fr. Nicholas Ong, Holy Trinity Church, Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia.
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