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Sinner Please Don’t Let this Harvest Pass – A Teaching on the readings for the 21st Sunday of the year

In the readings today the Lord describes a danger, our tendency to to make light of judgment and not be sober that one day we must account for what we have done. And though the Lord sets forth in the first reading his desire to save us, we must understand that our will, our yes, is essential to our salvation. Having taught us of this, Our Lord also gives us the Letter to the Hebrews that well sets for a kind of plan hereby, having accepting Jesus, we can make a daily walk with him in a kind of delivering discipline. Lets take a look at the reading to day, hear the urgent warnings and soberly lay hold of the solutions offered.

I. The Danger that is Described - The text begins – “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. (Lk 13:22-30)

There is a similar text in Matthew where the Lord says, Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Mat 7:13-14).

This text is a call to sobriety and away from an unbiblical way of thinking (also antithetical to long testimony of sacred tradition). For many today assume a kind of universalism that presumes most, if not the vast majority will go to heaven. But, as we have reviewed many times on this blog before, that is not what scripture says. Indeed, scripture says the exact opposite.

And while it remains true that there are no percentages given here, no exact numbers, we ought not so “interpret” the text such that Jesus’ use of the words “many” and “few” come to mean nothing, or the opposite of what he says. He is teaching us here a sober truth that, given the tendency of the human heart to hardness, stubbornness and obtuseness, “many” are currently on a path that is rejecting his offer of a saving relationship, rejecting his offer of the Kingdom and its values.

And though many wish to consider the teaching on judgement or the existence of eternal Hell untenable today, this is largely due to the modern tendency to refashion God and the faith according to modern preferences, rather than to cling what is true and revealed.

Thus, God is reduced to an affirmer, an enricher, a facilitator, or merely one who takes care of me, (all true but only a partial description). But significant set aside is the true essence of God as absolutely holy, just, pure and undefiled, who must at last utterly purify his faithful to reflect his utter purity and glory, but must have their consent to do so. It is likely to those that “refashion” God to a more palatable version after their own likeness that the Lord says in this Gospel “I do not know where you are from!”

Also refashioned (by those who set aside Hell), is human freedom which God has given us as our dignity, so that we can freely love Him, and what he values, in a covenant relationship, rather than serve him as slaves. I have written more on this here. Hell has to Be.

But for now let it be stated that Hell is taught clearly and consistently in Scripture and that it is taught to us in love as an urgent warning about the seriousness and significance of our choices which build to a final choice. No one loves you more than Jesus Christ, and no one spoke of judgement and Hell more than Jesus Christ.

Some today also object to any argument related to the faith that is “fear-based.” But this of course is not a reasonable posture to adopt when dealing with human beings. The fact is that we require and respond to a variety of appeals. And while fear may not be an appeal rooted in the highest goals, it remains an important appeal rooted in well ordered self love.

Jesus certainly saw fit to appeal to the fear of punishment, loss, and hell. In fact, it is arguable that this was his main approach and that one would struggle to find very many texts where Jesus appeals more to a perfect contrition and a purely holy fear rooted in love alone as a motive to avoid sin. But over and over in dozens of passages and parables Jesus warns of punishment and exclusion from the Kingdom for unrepented sin and for the refusal to be ready. Here are just a few:

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matt 7:13-14)
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Mat 13:41-42)
“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ” (Mk 13:35-37)
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with carousing, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come on you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch you therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:34-36)
“But about that day or hour no one knows…For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away…“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (Matt 24:36-44)
The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matt 24:51)
Then the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Matt 25:10-13)
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat…“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matt 24:41-42, 46)
Whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out, and cast it from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell. (Matt 5:28-29)
Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. (Matt 5:22)
And if your foot offend you, cut it off: it is better for you to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched. (Mk 9:45-46)
Friend, how came you in here not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen. (Matt 22:12-14)
Then said Jesus again to them, I go my way, and you shall seek me, but you shall die in your sins: where I go, you cannot come….I have told you that you will die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins (John 8:21, 24).
by their fruits you shall know them. Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matt 7:20-23)
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:15-16)
He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. (John 12:48)
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give youthis testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” (Rev 22:14-16)

Now in all these appeals, fear based or not, the goal is per se to be scared but to be sober and to develop a sense of urgency in following the call of God, and also of summoning others to saving faith. Sinner please don’t let this harvest pass. And die and lose your soul at last.

The text says that salvation is not attained by everyone, that some are not “strong enough” that some (many!) are on a road that does not lead to glory. Rather than go to sleep morally, the text urges us t be awake, sober and urgent in securing salvation everyone we meet by God’s grace.

Many today only think of hell for the extremely wicked (murder, genocidal maniacs, serial rapists et al). But as the texts quoted above teach, there are many other paths that also lead away from heaven and toward hell: unforgiveness, cares of the world, unrepented sexual sins like fornication, homosexual acts and adultery. Riches create difficulties that make it hard to enter the kingdom. Still others cannot and will not endure persecutions, trials or setback related to the faith and chose to deny Christ before others.

The fact of the matter is that many people just aren’t all that interested in heaven and they reject many of its values such as forgiveness, chastity, generosity and so forth. They aren’t strong in their desire. They are not “strong enough” to make the journey.

And thus, there is a danger that is described here by Jesus about which we must be sober.

II. The Divine Desire - Today’s first reading from Isaiah assures us that God wants to save us all. And thus if there resistance to heaven and the relationship of being with God forever, it is from our side, not God’s. The texts says in part, I come to gather nations of every language; they shall come and see my glory. …that have never heard of my fame, or seen my glory; and they shall proclaim my glory among the nations. …Some of these I will take as priests and Levites, says the LORD. (Is 66:18-21)

Other texts in the Scriptures also speak of God’s desire to save us all and of his extension of the offer of saving love to all:

As surely as I live, says the LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?’ (Ez 33:11)

God our Savior…wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth….And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles. (1 Tim 2:3-7)

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. (2 Peter 3:9-10)

Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:6-7)

So, God is not our adversary in salvation he is our only way. He wants to save us But he respects our choice

III. The Discipline that delivers - If then we tend to be stubborn and stiff-necked (and we are), and yet God wants to save us, then how is this to be accomplished. Well of course step one is to accept the Lord’s offer of his Son Jesus who alone can save us. We do this through faith and baptism, but also through the daily renewal of our “Yes” by God’s grace.

The Second reading also spells out for us a kind of remedy or way in which God by his grace works to draw us deeper into his saving love and path. The text says,

My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; 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. (Heb 12:5-7).

And in these words is a kind of five-point plan for one who has embraced saving love to remain in it:

A. Respect God’s Regimen -For the text says, My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord. The Greek word translated here as disdain is ὀλιγώρει (oligorei) which means more literally to care too little for something or to fail to accord it proper weight and respect. And the word translated here as discipline is παιδείας (paideias) which refers to the training and education of children so as to bring them to proper maturity. Hence the text here is telling us that God’s discipline for us is not punitive per se but is developmental, and necessary for us and that we ought not arrogantly make light of our need for this sort of training and discipline. While we may like to think of ourselves as mature and “all that” before God and his wisdom, we are tiny children in great need of growing up into the fullness of Christ.

B. Reconsider when reproved for the text says, nor lose heart when reproved by him – Here too the Greek is helpful, and the word translated here as “reproved” is ἐλεγχόμενος (elenchomenos) which more fully means properly, to be convinced with solid, compelling evidence, to be proven wrong, or to be compelled on to make a correction in ones thinking). And thus, though we may bristle or feel discouraged when corrected we ought to reconsider that God is all wise, and be open to being convicted by the truth he brings to us. Though the truth may at first challenge us we ought to reconsider and remember that the truth ultimately sets us free.

C. Remember his regard -For the text says, for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges.”….God treats you as sons. For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline? – God does not discipline us for his sake, to merely show power or demonstrate who is in charge. He disciplines us because he loves us and wants to save us. He is our Father, not our task-master. We are his children. We ought to remember the regard, the love he has for us and that he does not punish for the sake of his ego, but for our sake as sons and daughters.

D. Remain Resolved - For the text says, Endure your trials as “discipline” The important reminders must be constantly held by us. Our flesh will tend to want to rebel and our fragile egos will bristle easily. But we must endure, we must resolve, we must persevere and remain on the path God sets out for us.

E. Receive the Reward - For the text says, 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.

And thus today we have a sober teaching from the Lord who describes a danger of which we must be sober. And while the readings today also describe a divine desire to save us, there is need for a discipline that delivers us.

We ought be sober about what the Lord teaches. There are too many today who are not sober that many are going to be lost. As such they do not attend to their own souls, and even if they do, they are not attentive to the souls of others.

But if Jesus is sober and suffered so, why not us? If your children or grandchildren are away from the Church, not praying, not receiving Sacraments, and likely locked in serious and unrepented mortal sins and habits of sin, do not take this lightly. The Lord warns and warns and warns. Do not take this lightly or take refuge in false and unbiblical claims that presume an almost universal salvation.

The Lord demands from us a sober and biblical zeal for souls rooted in a sober apprehension that we humans tend to stray and mysteriously do not seem to want what God offers. Being sober helps us to be be urgent and urgency makes us evangelical enough to go to those we love and say, Sinner don’t let this harvest pass, and die, and lose your soul at last!