The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

August 24, 2025 – Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Luke 13:22-30

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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Most of us are conscious of various boundaries that give us an awareness of where we belong are. We recognise city limits, state lines, national boundaries and so forth. In the time of Jesus it was often the realm of kings or other regional leaders that gave people a sense of belonging or of being “on the outside.” While these boundaries were usually geographical, there were also other forms of belonging, Sometimes these were tribal or related to family membership. It was this question of belonging when Jesus was asked who is to be part of God’s kingdom or reign.

Today’s gospel deals with a question asked of Jesus about the size or inclusiveness of membership in God’s chosen people. Would it extend to only a few, or would its population be many? Or would it include everyone? Was everyone given membership in God’s “family” or did one have to do something to qualify? Further, what would be indicators of being with God.

Without answering with specific numbers, Jesus basically responds that some will be saved and some won’t. It depends on their values, their choices and how they live.

So God invites all to be part of God’s reign, but not everyone accepts that invitation. Our personal response matters. Exactly how? Well, for starters, become familiar with the teachings of Jesus and the examples of his genuine followers. And do as they did.

Here’s what I take from all this. We are all called to be part of God’s world. How we respond is manifest in our thoughts, words and deeds each day. How we live matters to God. And to us. We are given existence by God as a gift. This gift is renewed each day, each hour, each moment as we decide what to do in the time that is given us. All the good that we do becomes our personal contribution to God’s Kingdom, now and forever!

We can waste our lives or fill them with acts of caring for others by rendering assistance to those who need our help. Or we can squander our time in acts of selfishness and ignoring others in need. Think of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Recall that the gospels describe Jesus as one who went about doing good. In other words, human goodness, no matter how seemingly insignificant, contributes to and is an expression of personal membership as being part of God’s people.

David M. Thomas, PhD