The Narrow Gate to Heaven and the Wide Gate to Hell,
Cornelis de Bie, 17th century

Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.
(Luke 13:24)

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the Second Reading
Twenty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time
Hebrews 12:5–7, 11–13
August 21, 2022

We are continuing our examination of the 12^th chapter of the Letter to the Hebrews. As we have seen throughout our reading of this letter, the author was responding to a specific situation. He wrote to the Church in Rome, most likely in the 80s. They were born “Hebrew” and knew the faith and expectations of their ancestors. One especially important expectation is that the Messiah would inaugurate the kingdom of God. This was very this earthy. All people of all times would rise and the good would be rewarded and the bad punished in the sight of all. They believed that Jesus is the Messiah and that he would return to establish this kingdom. They have been waiting for a generation and he has not returned. Also, they were no longer accepted in the synagogues and were subject to the Roman law which required sacrificing to the emperor. They were becoming discouraged and tempted to return to the synagogue.

The author writes to them as one Jew to another. He assumes that they know more than the basics of Judaism, yet he realizes that they are also part of the Roman world. He writes excellent Greek and as we saw last week, he is aware of and most likely participates in many Roman Customs and practices.

He will continue today to exhort the Roman Christians to preserve through a mixture of both Jewish and Roman/Greek images and examples.

Continue reading “21st Sunday in Ordinary Time – Following Jesus Isn’t Easy, But Is Sure” →

Assumption of the Virgin, (detail) Antonio da Correggio,
1526-1530, Parma Cathedral cupola fresco,
(About this Image)

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the Second Reading
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Letter To the Hebrews 12:1–4
August 14, 2022

For the next 3 weeks we will examine chapter 12 of the “Letter to the Hebrews.” This is greater depth than usual. It is an important section not only for understanding the letter as a whole at any time but what being a Christian means today. The chapter presents three images of how and why we should follow Jesus even if it is difficult. Next week we will look at how the Christian way leads to maturity (12:5–13) and the following week the author will reveal it as a living liturgy (12:18–24). This week we will look at the Christian way as a great race (12:1–4).

Continue reading “20th Sunday in Ordinary Time – The Joy of Feeling His Pleasure” →