21st Sunday C

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21st Sunday in Ordinary Time C21 August 2016

In preparation for this Sunday’s liturgyAs aid in focusing our homilies and sharing

Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

11stst reading: Isaiah 66,18-21 reading: Isaiah 66,18-2118Thus says the LORD: I know their works and their thoughts, 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 brethren 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.

The focus is on gathering the nations..


Take note of the nations as object of prepositions.


The purpose of gathering nations is to see God’s gloryglory.

Textual Context of Isaiah 66,18-21Textual Context of Isaiah 66,18-21First Isaiah - 1-39Second Isaiah - 40-55Third Isaiah - 56-66

11stst reading: Isaiah 66,18-21 reading: Isaiah 66,18-2118Thus says the LORD: I know their works and their thoughts, 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 (Lydia), 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 brethren 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.

CommentaryCommentaryThe reading is about God gathering the The reading is about God gathering the nationsnations..The The nationsnations here are the non-Israelites. here are the non-Israelites.God knows their works and thoughts. V.18God knows their works and thoughts. V.18God invites them to see his glory.God invites them to see his glory.V.19 From them, God sends fugitives to V.19 From them, God sends fugitives to the the nationsnations (fellow (fellow nationsnations).).Mosoch, Tubal and Javan = associated sons of Japheth (Gen 10,2)The places The places (distant coastlands)(distant coastlands) identified identified here were familiar to the Israelites, but here were familiar to the Israelites, but they did not know God.they did not know God.The gathered The gathered nationsnations will proclaim God’s will proclaim God’s glory to them. glory to them. V.20 indicates the means of transportation V.20 indicates the means of transportation (dromedaries = camels) to bring the (dromedaries = camels) to bring the people to Jerusalem, following the ways people to Jerusalem, following the ways of the Israelites. of the Israelites. V.21 indicates God’s prerogative: to V.21 indicates God’s prerogative: to choose priests and Levites from the non-choose priests and Levites from the non-Israelites.Israelites.

Reflections on the 1Reflections on the 1stst reading reading

The reading proclaims the universality of salvation.Salvation is not limited to the Israelite people.The nations (non-Israelites) are called by God to see his glory.They, too, will have a mission.Beware of those who claim that they are the only ones who are saved.Beware of those who claim that they are the only ones sent.

Resp. Ps 117, 1.2Resp. Ps 117, 1.2R. (Mk 16:15) R. (Mk 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.the Good News.

1 Praise the LORD all you nations;1 Praise the LORD all you nations;glorify him, all you peoples!glorify him, all you peoples!

2 For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the 2 For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.fidelity of the LORD endures forever.

Resp. Ps 117, 1.2Resp. Ps 117, 1.2R. (Mk 16:15) R. (Mk 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.News.

1 Praise the LORD all you nations;1 Praise the LORD all you nations;glorify him, all you peoples!glorify him, all you peoples!

2 For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of 2 For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.the LORD endures forever.

The short responsorial psalm calls for all the nations to praise God.V.1 commands all nations (races, peoples) to praise and glorify God.V.2 tells us the reasons why:– His kindness is forever– His fidelity has no end.

Reflections on the PsalmIt is not enough to praise God as individuals.God wants us to be in communion with other people in praising God.Individualism is not allowed in an organized religion.When nations worship the same God together and always, wars stop.When we praise God, we acknowledge his kindness and fidelity.

22ndnd reading: Hebrews 12,5-7.11-13 reading: Hebrews 12,5-7.11-135 You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons: "My son, do not disdain the disciplinediscipline of the Lord or lose heart when reprovedreproved by him; 6 for whom the Lord loves, he disciplinesdisciplines; he scourgesscourges every son he acknowledges." 7 Endure your trials as "disciplinediscipline"; God treatstreats you as sons. For what "son" is there whom his father does not disciplinediscipline? 11 At the time, all disciplinediscipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trainedtrained 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. The focus is on disciplinediscipline.

Textual Context of Heb 12,5-7.11-13Textual Context of Heb 12,5-7.11-13I. 1:5--2:18 The name superior to the angels (Eschatology)II. 3: 1--5:10 Jesus faithful and compassionate (Ecclesiology)III. 5: 11--10:39 The central exposition (Sacrifice)IV. 11:1--12:13 Faith and endurance (Ecclesiological paraenesis)V. 12:14--13:19 The peaceful fruit of justice (Eschatology).

22ndnd reading: Hebrews 12,5-7.11-13 reading: Hebrews 12,5-7.11-135 You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons: "My son, do not disdain the disciplinediscipline of the Lord or lose heart when reprovedreproved by him; 6 for whom the Lord loves, he disciplinesdisciplines; he scourgesscourges every son he acknowledges." 7 Endure your trials as "disciplinediscipline"; God treatstreats you as sons. For what "son" is there whom his father does not disciplinediscipline? 11 At the time, all disciplinediscipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trainedtrained 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 disjoined but healed.

CommentaryThe reading is full of exhortations. The exhortations are:Do not disdain… v.5Do not lose heart… v.5Endure your trials… v.7Strengthen your droopings v.12Make straight your paths v.13The main point of the exhortations is to accept disciplinediscipline from the Lord.The reasons for disciplinediscipline:•Because the Lord loves / acknowledges you… v.6•Because God treats you as sons v.7•Because by its nature, discipline brings peace…v.11

Reflections on the 2Reflections on the 2ndnd reading readingDon’t get God wrong when he Don’t get God wrong when he disciplinesdisciplines / / reproves / scourges / rebukes / chastises / scolds reproves / scourges / rebukes / chastises / scolds you. You feel you are being punished.you. You feel you are being punished.God is a good parent. He does not allow any of his God is a good parent. He does not allow any of his children to be mediocre in spirit. He does not want children to be mediocre in spirit. He does not want them to become worse. That’s why, he scourges them to become worse. That’s why, he scourges them.them.If you are willing to be If you are willing to be chastisedchastised (or to learn from God), (or to learn from God), you will have a better future.you will have a better future.If you are very sensitive to If you are very sensitive to rebukerebuke, if you are always , if you are always reacting to fraternal correction, you have no place in reacting to fraternal correction, you have no place in the family of God, in the church. the family of God, in the church.

Gospel reading: Luke 13,22-30Gospel reading: Luke 13,22-3022 Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few people be savedsaved?" 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."

The focus is on salvationsalvation.

Gospel reading: Luke 13,22-30Gospel reading: Luke 13,22-30Setting in a journey to Jerusalem

22 Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.

Question and answer (imperative)23 Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few people be savedsaved?" 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.

The Parable25 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.'

A simple outline

The reason for the rejection27 Then he will say to you, 'I do not know where (you) are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!'

The Punishment28 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.

The reward of the righteous29 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.

The saying30 For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."

Textual Context of Luke 13,22-30Luke 13,22-30Luke 13,6-9 Parable of the Barren Fig TreeLuke 13,10-19 Jesus Heals a Crippled WomanLuke 13,20-21 Parable of the YeastLuke 13,22-30 The Narrow DoorLuke 13,31-35 Lament Over JerusalemLuke 14,1-6 Jesus Heals the Man with DropsyLuke 14,7-14 Humility and HospitalityLuke 14,15-24 Parable of the Great DinnerLuke 14,25 Cost of Discipleship

Gospel reading: Luke 13,22-30Gospel reading: Luke 13,22-30Setting in a journey to

Jerusalem22 Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.

Question and answer (imperative)23 Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few people be savedsaved?" 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.

The Parable25 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.'

CommentaryOur reading belongs to the long journey narrative of Luke.Jesus is going to Jerusalem after his ministry in Galilee.On the way, he meets a lot of people with different concerns.

In v.23, someone asks if a few people will be saved. In v.24, Jesus does not directly entertain the question. He is more concerned with the man who questions him. “Strive to enter through the narrow gate… You better be one of the few if it is the case. Be strong.” It is not that easy to be saved.

The parable follows up the importance of entering the door that the Lord opens.Jesus does not open the door to evildoers.Evildoers are the ones who eat and drink with Jesus and are seemingly taught by him, but do not learn how to do good.

The reason for the rejection27 Then he will say to you, 'I do not know where (you) are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!'

The Punishment28 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.

The reward of the righteous29 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.

The saying30 For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."

In v.27, Jesus does not entertain evildoers. They are unfit for the kingdom of God. They have not been serious with his teachings.In our catechism and homilies, we seldom hear of punishment being mentioned. Here, the punishment for evildoers is wailing and grinding of teeth. Sometimes it is needed in order to warn people to shape up.The evildoers will feel jealous of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the prophets entering the door, while they, the evildoers are rejected. V.28

The righteous, from all corners of the world, will sit at the banquet table in the kingdom of God. Great is the reward of the doers of good and God’s will. v.29

The saying in v.30 affirms the salvation of those who are serious in listening and doing the will of God, even if they realize quite late. Hopeless are the persons who claim they have been associating with Jesus but, in fact, producing no good fruit. Salvation is not barkadahan.

Reflections on the gospel readingReflections on the gospel reading

The Christian must make sure he enters the The Christian must make sure he enters the narrow gate narrow gate (=doing good works).(=doing good works).When you eat and drink with Christ, it does not When you eat and drink with Christ, it does not mean you are saved. mean you are saved. (always going to church and (always going to church and receiving communion, “partying with the Lord”)receiving communion, “partying with the Lord”)Associating with Christ must bear good fruits Associating with Christ must bear good fruits (justice and charity).(justice and charity).You cannot enter the kingdom of God if you do You cannot enter the kingdom of God if you do not take seriously the word of God, if you spend not take seriously the word of God, if you spend more time gossiping, idling time away, more time gossiping, idling time away, grandstanding and partying.grandstanding and partying.

Tying the 3 readings and the PsalmTying the 3 readings and the PsalmThe The first readingfirst reading is about the nations is about the nations seeing God’s glory seeing God’s glory (=(=salvationsalvation).).The The psalmpsalm exhorts all peoples to praise exhorts all peoples to praise God. God. (=sign of being (=sign of being savedsaved))The The second readingsecond reading is about discipline is about discipline (=to (=to be be savedsaved).).The The gospel readinggospel reading talks about how to be talks about how to be savedsaved. . (=through good works)(=through good works)

How to develop your sharing / How to develop your sharing / homilyhomily

Begin by talking about the meaning of Begin by talking about the meaning of salvationsalvation for you. for you.– SalvationSalvation may be work, money, good may be work, money, good

relationships, security, freedom, etc.relationships, security, freedom, etc.Salvation for God is our well-being, Salvation for God is our well-being, liberation, assurance that we will be with liberation, assurance that we will be with him in heaven.him in heaven.How do we attain How do we attain salvationsalvation??– Let us get the meaning of salvation through Let us get the meaning of salvation through

the readings.the readings.

In the first readingIn the first reading,, we must realize that we must realize that salvationsalvation is for everyone. is for everyone. There is no exclusivism in There is no exclusivism in salvationsalvation. . We, all peoples, are invited to see the glory of We, all peoples, are invited to see the glory of God. God. All we need to do is to respond and to be with All we need to do is to respond and to be with others.others.We respond to God’s call when we are praising We respond to God’s call when we are praising and worshipping God side by side with our and worshipping God side by side with our brothers and sisters.brothers and sisters.SalvationSalvation is still far from those who are is still far from those who are individualistic, not communitarian.individualistic, not communitarian.

In the second readingIn the second reading,, we attain we attain salvationsalvation by by subjecting ourselves to chastisements. subjecting ourselves to chastisements. We willingly submit ourselves to God’s discipline. We willingly submit ourselves to God’s discipline. We should not be reacting if we are corrected.We should not be reacting if we are corrected.God may be using our lola, friend or the priest to God may be using our lola, friend or the priest to point out our mistakes. point out our mistakes. If we reject corrections and punishments, we are If we reject corrections and punishments, we are still far from still far from salvationsalvation..

The The gospel readinggospel reading asks each Christian to enter asks each Christian to enter the narrow path.the narrow path.The way to The way to salvationsalvation is not cheap. The narrow is not cheap. The narrow path is doing path is doing good deedsgood deeds..Can you mention the Can you mention the good deedsgood deeds you are doing? you are doing?– Helping the poor, visiting the sick and imprisoned, Helping the poor, visiting the sick and imprisoned,

teaching catechism to children, works of mercy, etc.teaching catechism to children, works of mercy, etc.If you cannot think of any good deed, you must If you cannot think of any good deed, you must be an evildoer. You will be like one of those who be an evildoer. You will be like one of those who knock but will be refused entrance knock but will be refused entrance The Christian must never fail to The Christian must never fail to do gooddo good..No one should get tired of doing good and giving No one should get tired of doing good and giving good examples.good examples.

Blessed are our communities and parishes, when Blessed are our communities and parishes, when our leaders and members spend time thinking, our leaders and members spend time thinking, planning and implementing programs for the planning and implementing programs for the good of the Church and society.good of the Church and society.Are you involved in social work and teaching the Are you involved in social work and teaching the faith?faith?Unhappy is our Church, when the leaders and Unhappy is our Church, when the leaders and members spend more time bickering, struggling members spend more time bickering, struggling for power, or, just sitting down remembering the for power, or, just sitting down remembering the good ol’ days.good ol’ days.This Church needs fresh blood.This Church needs fresh blood.

In the In the eucharist, eucharist, we acknowledge that we acknowledge that Jesus is the source of our salvation. Jesus is the source of our salvation. The The eucharisteucharist is the sacrament of unity. is the sacrament of unity.The The eucharisteucharist is the narrow path to is the narrow path to heaven, for not just anyone can receive it, heaven, for not just anyone can receive it, but only the doers of good. but only the doers of good. No evil doer is allowed to receive the No evil doer is allowed to receive the eucharisteucharist. It is a contradiction in terms.. It is a contradiction in terms.

Our Context of Sin and GraceOur Context of Sin and GraceExclusivism, parochialismExclusivism, parochialismEthnocentricismEthnocentricismXenophobic Xenophobic Sexism Sexism Pasaway (hard headed)Pasaway (hard headed)Sensitive (reactive) to Sensitive (reactive) to correctioncorrectionNo discipline, no characterNo discipline, no characterNo perseverance in workNo perseverance in workSeeking for privilegesSeeking for privilegesAlways eating and drinking Always eating and drinking even at workeven at work

MagnanimousMagnanimousAll-embracingAll-embracingEcumenism, ecumenical Ecumenism, ecumenical servicesservicesInter-religious dialogueInter-religious dialogueDialogicalDialogicalAttends bible studies Attends bible studies Spiritual works of mercySpiritual works of mercyCorporal works of mercyCorporal works of mercySupports charitable Supports charitable institutionsinstitutions

Suggested SongsSuggested SongsGo Tell EveryoneGo Tell EveryoneIkaw Ngayon BukasIkaw Ngayon Bukas– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLXGRycu6kohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLXGRycu6ko

Kahit Isang KusingKahit Isang Kusing– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKPih205uVQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKPih205uVQ

Dear sisters and brothers,

God wants salvation of all, not just ours or yours. Worshiping together is a sign of having accepted God's design.

Fr. Cielo