The 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time | Sunday 21 August 2022

Today is Sunday the 21st August, the 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time.


The community of Taizé sing C’est toi, ma lampe, Seigneur. “O Lord, you are my lamp. My God, enlighten my darkness.”

C’est Toi ma lampe, Seigneur
Mon Dieu, éclaire ma ténèbre
Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, éclaire ma ténèbre
Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, éclaire ma ténèbre


Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 13:22-30


Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, ‘Lord, will only a few be saved?’ He said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, “Lord, open to us”, then in reply he will say to you, “I do not know where you come from.” Then you will begin to say, “We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.” But he will say, “I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!” 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, and you yourselves thrown out. Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.’

‘Strive to enter by the narrow door’. How does that narrow door look to you? What do you think the narrow door represents? What is on the other side of the door? What if it were a matter of faith to go through it?

The kingdom of God as Jesus describes it has people from east and west, north and south eating in the kingdom of God. Imagine the inclusive scene. Place yourself in it. The last first, the first last. Is it a sobering message for you? Or one of great hope, perhaps? Where is the narrow door in the scene?


As you hear the passage again, remember that Jesus Himself went through the narrow door. And that His own experience - of sacrificial love - was often one of great striving. He gave. Yet he also received.


The giving - and receiving - of love. The message of the Gospel. Speak to God in these closing moments about that narrow door.


Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.