Brothers and sisters,
You have forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children:
“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.
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. HEB 12:5-7, 11-13
Paul teaches that discipline is necessary in our spiritual lives. ”Endure your trials as “discipline””, and “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”. Is there such a thing as tough or only trained? With the knowledge of the Scriptures, we gain our identity. Jesus teaches us how to discipline ourselves to enter heaven. We need more people disciplining themselves in the ways of Jesus Christ. Suffering brings joy, there is no way around it!
Jesus passed through towns and villages,
teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.
Someone asked him,
“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.
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!’
And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth
when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
and all the prophets in the kingdom of God
and you yourselves cast out.
And people will come from the east and the west
and from the north and the south
and will recline at table in the kingdom of God.
For behold, some are last who will be first,
and some are first who will be last.” LK 13:22-30
Jesus is the narrow gate which does not mean few people are entering but that He is the Way to enter. It is not easy as St. Paul taught us in the 2nd reading, we must discipline ourselves in the ways of Christ. It requires enduring pain and suffering, but the rewards are eternal. “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.”
Today’s challenge: Discipline yourself better in one are of your life that needs it, spiritually. This is not a diet to look better or exercise for that perfect looking body. It is setting an alarm on your phone to pray in the same place at the same time and not skipping when you don’t want to until it is habit. It is waking up early to go to Mass during a week day even though you want to sleep in. It is reading a spiritual book when you want to watch TV. It is working through boredom of any kind because discipline brings us the reward of righteousness and eternal life.
Be a servant, become a saint!
#Christian YOLO
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