Daily Readings - Sun Aug 25 2019

¹⁸But I know their works and their thoughts. I am arriving, so that I may gather them together with all nations and languages. And they will approach, and they will see my glory¹⁹And I will set a sign among them. And I will send some of those who will have been saved to the Gentiles in the sea, to Africa, and to those who draw the bow in Lydia, to Italy and Greece, to islands far away, to those who have not heard of me, and to those who have not seen my glory. And they will announce my glory to the Gentiles²⁰And they will lead all of your brothers from all of the Gentiles as a gift to the Lord, on horses, and in four-horse chariots, and on stretchers, and on mules, and in coaches, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the Lord, in the same manner that the sons of Israel would carry an offering in a pure vessel into the house of the Lord²¹And I will take from them to be priests and Levites, says the Lord

Hebrews

Chapter 12

⁵And you have forgotten the consolation which speaks to you like sons, saying: "My son, do not be willing to neglect the discipline of the Lord. Neither should you become weary, while being rebuked by him.⁶For whomever the Lord loves, he chastises. And every son whom he accepts, he scourges⁷Persevere in discipline. God presents you to himself as sons. But what son is there, whom his father does not correct¹¹Now every discipline, in the present time, does not seem a gladness, of course, but a grief. But afterwards, it will repay a most peaceful fruit of justice to those who become trained in it¹²Because of this, lift up your lazy hands and your lax knees¹³and straighten the path of your feet, so that no one, being lame, may wander astray, but instead may be healed

Luke

Chapter 13

²²And he was traveling through the cities and towns, teaching and making his way to Jerusalem²³And someone said to him, "Lord, are they few who are saved?" But he said to them²⁴"Strive to enter through the narrow gate. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and not be able²⁵Then, when the father of the family will have entered and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us.’ And in response, he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.²⁶Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.²⁷And he will say to you: ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!²⁸In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, yet you yourselves are expelled outside²⁹And they will arrive from the East, and the West, and the North, and the South; and they will recline at table in the kingdom of God³⁰And behold, those who are last will be first, and those who are first will be last.

Sermon

In today's readings, we are reminded of God's universal invitation and the commitment required to follow His path. Isaiah envisions a future where all nations are gathered together, emphasizing God's inclusive plan for salvation. This vision is not just a distant hope but a call to action, urging us to embrace the diversity of God's people and recognize the universal scope of His mercy. Hebrews complements this by discussing the role of discipline in our spiritual journey. It highlights that trials and challenges, though difficult, are part of God's loving plan to refine us. This discipline helps us grow in holiness and perseverance, essential for staying on the narrow path Jesus speaks about in Luke. In Luke's Gospel, Jesus emphasizes the urgency of entering through the narrow gate, warning that not all who think they are included will be. This serves as a call to sincerity and commitment in our faith, reminding us that true discipleship requires dedication and a willingness to live according to God's will. As we reflect on these readings, we are challenged to live our faith with sincerity and perseverance. We must remain open to the universal call of God's love while enduring trials with patience, knowing they strengthen our character. Let us strive to walk the narrow path with commitment, ensuring our actions reflect our faith. The moral lesson here is clear: God's invitation is universal, but it demands our dedicated response, lived out in love and perseverance.