Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

 

“The Narrow Door”
by Deacon Robert Lackney, (Paris) 1986

Readings for Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time [1] 

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
 
Readings and Commentary: [3]
 
Reading 1: Ephesians 6:1-9
 
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Honor your father and mother.
This is the first commandment with a promise,
that it may go well with you
and that you may have a long life on earth.
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger,
but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord.
 
Slaves, be obedient to your human masters with fear and trembling,
in sincerity of heart, as to Christ,
not only when being watched, as currying favor,
but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
willingly serving the Lord and not men,
knowing that each will be requited from the Lord
for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
Masters, act in the same way towards them, and stop bullying,
knowing that both they and you have a Master in heaven
and that with him there is no partiality.
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Commentary on Eph 6:1-9
 
St. Paul’s instruction to the Church at Ephesus goes to the fundamental laws of the Decalogue (the Ten Commandments, Deuteronomy 5:16) as he instructs the children to obey their parents (the fourth commandment: the first of the commandments to focus on love of neighbor). This was a problem, especially among those from pagan traditions. Under Mosaic Law, disrespect for one's parents was punishable by death (see Exodus 21:17, Deuteronomy 21:18-21). The apostle goes on to instruct parents not to be so harsh on their children that they discourage them, but to be examples of faith to inspire them.
 
In St. Paul’s time, slavery existed throughout the region. With his comments in verses 5-9, he attempts to establish that the dignity of the person should be observed regardless of the relative roles. Slaves (members of the community) should do their duties faithfully, and masters should treat their slaves with compassion and dignity as well. While slavery was not directly condemned by St. Paul, the Gospel he preached served to undermine it (see Galatians 3:28 and Philemon 16).
 
CCC: Eph 6:1-3 2196; Eph 6:1 2217; Eph 6:4 2223, 2286
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145:10-11, 12-13ab, 13cd-14
 
R. (13c) The Lord is faithful in all his words.
 
All your works give you thanks,
O LORD and your faithful bless you.
They speak of the glory of your reign
and tell of your great works
R. The Lord is faithful in all his words.
 
Making known to all your power,
the glorious splendor of your rule.
Your reign is a reign for all ages,
your dominion for all generations.
R. The Lord is faithful in all his words.
 
The LORD is trustworthy in every word,
and faithful in every work.
The LORD supports all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. The Lord is faithful in all his words.
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Commentary on Ps 145:10-11, 12-13ab, 13cd-14
 
Psalm 145 is a hymn of praise. These strophes call on the faithful to give thanks to God for opening the gates of his Heavenly Kingdom.  The psalmist sings his praise to God, who is faithful to his people, and who saves those who are in need. The selection gives praise God for his mercy and compassion, and thanks for his creation and redemption. There is also a subtle link to "Christian wisdom" that comes with putting on the mind of Christ. The entire song is in the acrostic form (although loosely assembled), each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
 
CCC: Ps 145:9 295, 342
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Gospel: Luke 13:22-30
 
Jesus passed through towns and villages,
teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.
Someone asked him,
“Lord, will only a few people be saved?”
He answered them,
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.
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.’
And you will say,
‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’
Then he will say to you,
‘I do not know where you are from.
Depart from me, all you evildoers!’
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.
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.
For behold, some are last who will be first,
and some are first who will be last.”
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Commentary on Lk 13:22-30
 
Jesus has just told the parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast.  Here, the questioner is asking if many will be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus’ answer has two levels of meaning. Entering through the “narrow gate” implies that there is but one set of directions that must be followed to achieve heaven. He says many will attempt to follow these directions but will not be able to because they are difficult.
 
The Lord’s example of the master locking the door is an analogy for the end times, the eschaton, when final judgment will be leveled against those who seek entry to the heavenly kingdom. We hear that people from all over the world will be called (see also Matthew 22:14). He concludes saying that some of the last (called to discipleship) will be first (have higher places of honor) and vice versa (similar in intent to Matthew 20:16).
 
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Reflection:
 
We can sum up the Scripture passages today by saying Jesus tells us where to go, and St. Paul tells us how to get there.  In St. Luke’s Gospel, Jesus sees the end of time, the eschaton and, in visionary terms, describes how difficult it will be to follow the path (both faith and actions are required here) to get to the Heavenly Kingdom. 
 
The Lord’s specific response is to the members of the Jewish hierarchy who have rejected him.  Jesus tells them, using imagery they will certainly understand, that because they failed to understand the message he brought, they would not enter that kingdom, but would suffer greatly.  They would see the great patriarchs of their faith, “Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets” enjoying the Kingdom he proclaimed, and they would be cast out. The Lord then predicts that many not of the Jewish faith will come to believe and share in that promise.
 
Now we come to St. Paul who is writing to the church at Ephesus.  Applying the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments, to their situation, he explains the fourth commandment: “Children, obey your parents.” (Or, “'Honor your father and your mother,” as is stated in Deuteronomy.)  While this issue was problematic then as it is now, it is important that we see how he balances that injunction with the next: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger.”  We see how the apostle strives to show how important mutual love and respect have become under Christ.  It is not simply that children are to be obedient; parents too have an obligation to their children.
 
Although it is not meant to be analogous, the next verses say the same thing with reference to slaves and masters. The message is the same: mutual respect, the dignity of the human person, regardless of position or rank, is to be a defining characteristic of the Christian faith.
The path we are called to is a difficult way indeed, this journey to the heavenly kingdom.  Who among us has not felt the urge to misuse power over another person, over a younger sibling, a co-worker, or even one of our children?  And who among us has not felt bitterness when one in power used that power frivolously or unjustly?  The sword of power cuts both ways and it is difficult to wield unless guided by love of others alone.
 
Our prayer for today is that we will be given that wisdom to act in such a way that the dignity of the human person is always kept before us in our actions, whether we serve or whether we are served.  We recall our master’s words: “For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
 
Pax

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[1] The picture used today is “The Narrow Door” by Deacon Robert Lackney, (Paris) 1986.
[2] S.S. Commemoratio
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.