“Sometimes This Way…Sometimes That” by Sam Miller

“Sometimes This Way…Sometimes That” by Sam Miller

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

I come to gather nations of every language; they shall come and see my glory. I will set a sign among them; from them I will send fugitives to the nations: to Tarshish, Put and Lud, Mosoch, Tubal and Javan, to the distant coastlands that have never heard of my fame, or seen my glory; and they shall proclaim my glory among the nations. (Isaiah 66:18-19)

Praise the LORD all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!
Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
For steadfast is his kindness toward us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever. (Psalms 117:1,2)

“…for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges." Endure your trials as "discipline"; God treats you as sons. For what "son" is there whom his father does not discipline? At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it. So, strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be disjointed but healed. (Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13)

"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!' (Luke 13:24-27)

Piety

Here I Am, Lord by John Michael Talbot

I the lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save
I have made the stars of night
I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear My light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord
Is it I Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night
I will go, Lord,
If you lead me

I will hold Your people in my heart

Study

Our Old Testament readings at Mass this week, Monday through Thursday, have been from the book of Judges. The children of Israel had abandoned their true God, their Deliverer, to serve the Baals and foreign gods from the nations around them. Because of their waywardness, the Lord allowed these children to “fall into the power of their enemies round about whom they were no longer able to withstand…Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, He would be with the judge and save them from the power of their enemies as long as the judge lived.”

The Lord was with His judges and by them, the children of Israel were protected. We’ve learned of the Lord being with Gideon and telling him to cut down Midian to the last man. Then there was Jephthah into whose power the Lord delivered the Ammonites when he fought against them.

Why then, when the judges died, did the children turn away from God and go farther astray than before? The judges were showing the way to the “narrow gate” as they lived and when they died the TCC (Travelers Comfort Committee) began lobbying to add bonds to referendums of support for additional lanes, to broaden the pathway to the “narrow gate”. This plan, of course, I imagine, did nothing to facilitate entering through the “narrow gate”, but rather would have been the cause for confusion, frustration and possibly some cart rage at having to merge back into a single lane for entry into the gate!!

So, sometimes I’m ALL about being the Lord’s messenger. His Good News overflows from my heart and I can’t keep from singing!! I’m focused on the “narrow gate”, even to staying in my lane behind the Sunday drivers/tourists! Here I am, Lord! Need me, lead me, send me!!!

The flip side is the times when the Lord is correcting me for being too weak, too easily distracted, too rebelliously human. Sometimes, the discipline does chafe and I pull against the pain without being able to see the joy that I will have as a result of surrendering to it, of being repentant. I want to stay in the left-hand lane, on the broad highway headed for destruction. I’m all about getting down the road when I’m behind the wheel and anyone who doesn’t have the same aim should please remove themselves from my chosen path!

Action

I don’t want to be sent away as an “evildoer”, unrecognized and unknown as one of the Master’s followers!! Sometimes, the paths for my feet do need straightening! Please help me, Lord to find the joy of Your discipline, to be trained by it and so enjoy the peaceful fruit of righteousness it brings. Here I am, Lord!

Need me, lead me, send me!!!