1ST READING
The latter part of the Book of Isaiah is written in the context of the restoration of Jerusalem as the Holy City of the world. It anticipates both the coming of the Messiah and, perhaps, even heaven itself in its imagery and hope. As we read a text, such as the one before us today, we need to be mindful that the intention of the writer is to encourage the people to trust — that God will see them through to a life of ultimate glory, no matter how hard things may seem at the moment.
Isaiah 66:18-21
18 Thus says the Lord: I know their works and their thoughts, and I come to gather nations of every language; they shall come and see my glory. 19 I will set a sign among them; from them I will send fugitives to the nations to Tarshish, Put and Lud, Mosoch, Tubal and Javan, to the distant coastlands that have never heard of my fame, or seen my glory; and they shall proclaim my glory among the nations. 20 They shall bring all your brothers and sisters from all the nations as an offering to the Lord, on horses and in chariots, in carts, upon mules and dromedaries, to Jerusalem, my holy mountain, says the Lord, just as the Israelites bring their offering to the house of the Lord in clean vessels. 21 Some of these I will take as priests and Levites, says the Lord.
P S A L M
Psalm 117:1, 2
R: Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
1 Praise the Lord, all you nations; glorify him, all you peoples! (R) 2 For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the Lord endures forever. (R)
2ND READING
Spare the rod and spoil the child — it is an old saying and one that is true despite the fact that in many countries today such punishments are illegal. Discipline is essential to every life of success ever known in history. Nobody will achieve success without it. This is true of the spiritual life as well. We have to be willing to embrace suffering when it comes our way, or else we will make the mistake of believing that nothing can go wrong if we just trust in the Lord. The martyrs are the most obvious examples of such a belief being blatantly incorrect.
Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13
5 Brothers and sisters, You have forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children: “My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; 6 for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges.” 7 Endure your trials as “discipline;” God treats you as sons. For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline? 11 At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who aretrained by it. 12 So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. 13 Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be disjointed but healed.
GOSPEL
There is a common hymn that says the road to salvation is broad and wide. I do not know where the writer got that idea from. We hear today that the road to salvation is narrow and that few willingly choose to take it. Let us make sure that we are some of those few, in that we will not allow ourselves to be led astray by thoughts that salvation is something easy and cheap to achieve — after all Jesus died on the cross to make it happen.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
I am the way, the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father, except through me.
Luke 13:22-30
22 Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. 23Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. 25 After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ 26 And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ 27 Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
think: The road to salvation is narrow and few willingly choose to take it.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
____________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today_
_____________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 41-44
SABBATH PAUSE
My weekly time with God
THANK YOU LIST
Things to be grateful for from the past week
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment