Sunday Scripture readings

Submitted on May 24, 2007

Fr. Francis X. Cleary, SJ

TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, AUGUST 22 Isaiah 66:18-21; Psalm 117; Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13; Luke 13:22-30 OUR GOOD NEWS: God invites everyone into His Kingdom, but we must want to come. Our first reading constitutes the high point of Isaiah’s teaching about God’s purpose of universal salvation. Pagan nations are to be treated exactly like the Chosen People. In earlier prophetic texts, God was "He who comes to gather" Israelites dispersed in exile and to judge their pagan oppressors. Now we hear that "I come to gather nations of every language." Israelite pilgrims regularly journeyed to Jerusalem, where they encountered God’s "glory," His presence in sovereign power, through Word (Scripture) and cultic acts. Now the world’s non-Jews "shall come and see My glory." Lest they miss the way, God "will set a sign among them" — send messengers to bring in peoples from the four corners of the Mediterranean world ("Tarshish," etc.), and from the utmost limits of human habitation ("distant coastlands"). These missionaries will be directed to pagan fugitives who have survived the world’s attempt to live autonomously, without knowing (acknowledging and obeying) the true God. This is the earliest biblical reference to the "foreign missions" and exactly corresponds to the apostolic charge given the early Church. Amazing Good News! As the Old Testament period drew to an end, we might expect increased threats of richly deserved world judgment and annihilation for Gentiles, enemies of God’s people. Instead, Israel was to open its arms and receive them as brothers and sisters, sharing with pagans its uniquely privileged relationship with God. But Judaism must not be ignored or slighted. The nations’ first cultic act as converts would be to "bring an offering" to the Lord, not the usual cereal offering to be sacrificed in the Temple but Jews exiled throughout the world. These had been cruelly driven from their land by pagans; now their descendants will lead them back with great ceremony and honor. This quasi-priestly act of reconciliation, by which Gentiles express repentance and Jews extend forgiveness, is rewarded with the former being admitted into the ranks of sacred temple personnel. By being allowed to join the innermost circles of priests and Levites, a privilege heretofore reserved for Jews of impeccable descent, pagans are assured full equality in God’s final-age community of the saved. Today’s first reading thus ranks with the most important texts of the entire Bible and addresses modern concerns. God does not play favorites, nor does He punish the guilty, but loves everyone, even the least worthy. Vatican II summons us to lay aside deeply ingrained anti-Semitic prejudice and instead to show "mutual understanding and respect" toward Jews. We also are taught that worldwide foreign missions are a permanent, essential mark of the Church. Another rich and relevant text is today’s second reading. We are to respond to suffering with healthy grief, refusing to let it alienate us from God, looking for some meaning and purpose without demanding the full answer, finding solace in carrying on with our responsibilities.