F
Fidelis
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My Bible study for this week. Let me know if it is helpful:
LITURGICAL BIBLE STUDY
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle C
Opening prayer
Isaiah 66:18-21 (Ps 117:1-2) Hebrews 12:5-7,11-13 Luke 13:22-30
Overview of the Gospel:· In this Sundays Gospel, Jesus continues his last, fateful journey toward Jerusalem, teaching both his disciples and those he meets along the way. Someone in the crowd asks him about the number of those who will be saved. Will they be few?
· While most Jews of the time assumed that as members of God’s chosen people, they had a right to be saved, there was disagreement as to how far one had to stray to be excluded. There was general agreement that non-Jews would not be saved.
· Jesus shatters this narrow understanding of salvation in two ways. First, he reveals that no one will enter the Kingdom of God merely by the fact of being a member of the covenanted community. He pointedly used the word “strive” (v 24), the Greek root of which denotes an agonizing struggle, like that of an athlete.
· Secondly, he makes it clear that not only may his listeners not find themselves sharing eternity with the revered Old Testament patriarchs and prophets (v 28), but, amazingly, many outside of Israel will be included before some of them (vv 29-30). For us, this serves as both encouragement—and a warning.
Questions:· What does it mean to be saved? Saved from what? Saved for what?
· What is the exact question that Jesus is asked (v 23)? Does he answer it directly?
· What does the image of the narrow gate represent? According to Jesus, who will make it through the narrow gate and who won’t (v 30)?
· If God loves all people, why isn’t the gate wider? Who are the ones outside? Why isn’t “eating and drinking” (just being associated) with Jesus enough?
· What does Jesus mean by “evil doers” (v 27)? In the end, will only a few, or *many * or all people will be saved? Why?
· What kind of strength does it take to enter the narrow gate? How will you get the strength? Do you trust in and depend on God’s grace and strength—or what?
Catechism of the Catholic Church: §§ 1696, 2611, 1036, 2092
Closing prayer
Remember to read and meditate on the daily Mass readings found in the bulletin!
*If men go to so much trouble and effort to live here a little longer, ought they not strive so much harder to live eternally? * -St. Augustine
2004 Vince Contreras
LITURGICAL BIBLE STUDY
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle C
Opening prayer
Isaiah 66:18-21 (Ps 117:1-2) Hebrews 12:5-7,11-13 Luke 13:22-30
Overview of the Gospel:· In this Sundays Gospel, Jesus continues his last, fateful journey toward Jerusalem, teaching both his disciples and those he meets along the way. Someone in the crowd asks him about the number of those who will be saved. Will they be few?
· While most Jews of the time assumed that as members of God’s chosen people, they had a right to be saved, there was disagreement as to how far one had to stray to be excluded. There was general agreement that non-Jews would not be saved.
· Jesus shatters this narrow understanding of salvation in two ways. First, he reveals that no one will enter the Kingdom of God merely by the fact of being a member of the covenanted community. He pointedly used the word “strive” (v 24), the Greek root of which denotes an agonizing struggle, like that of an athlete.
· Secondly, he makes it clear that not only may his listeners not find themselves sharing eternity with the revered Old Testament patriarchs and prophets (v 28), but, amazingly, many outside of Israel will be included before some of them (vv 29-30). For us, this serves as both encouragement—and a warning.
Questions:· What does it mean to be saved? Saved from what? Saved for what?
· What is the exact question that Jesus is asked (v 23)? Does he answer it directly?
· What does the image of the narrow gate represent? According to Jesus, who will make it through the narrow gate and who won’t (v 30)?
· If God loves all people, why isn’t the gate wider? Who are the ones outside? Why isn’t “eating and drinking” (just being associated) with Jesus enough?
· What does Jesus mean by “evil doers” (v 27)? In the end, will only a few, or *many * or all people will be saved? Why?
· What kind of strength does it take to enter the narrow gate? How will you get the strength? Do you trust in and depend on God’s grace and strength—or what?
Catechism of the Catholic Church: §§ 1696, 2611, 1036, 2092
Closing prayer
Remember to read and meditate on the daily Mass readings found in the bulletin!
*If men go to so much trouble and effort to live here a little longer, ought they not strive so much harder to live eternally? * -St. Augustine
2004 Vince Contreras