21st Sunday of Ordinary Time [C]

 

21ST SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [C]


We’re being faced with a certain amount of drama in Luke chapter thirteen. What seems to be the issue? Is it that the master of the house has been awakened? No, that’s not his complaint. The issue, with regard to those who are knocking on his door, is that he doesn’t know where they are from (Luke 13:25-27). What does this suggest? It’s being suggested that they didn’t arrive by way of the gate. And in addition, they didn’t follow the path that had been outlined for them. They evidently forged their own path. It’s a source of concern for the master. He can see them standing in his doorway. The problem isn’t that they are there; rather, he wants to know: How did you get there? It’s not so much the “what” but the “how.”  


For example, let’s say that Roxanne has fallen in love. We are referring here to a story that derives from seventeenth century France. She is in love with a cadet named Christian. How did he win her over? Through poetry. He’s passing off poems that have been composed by one of his fellow cadets—a young man named Cyrano. The impression being given is that Christian is the author. However, it eventually becomes clear he’s taking credit for poetry that has been written by his comrade. So now we have an issue. It’s not that she has fallen in love. It’s more about how she gets there. It needs to happen in a legitimate way. But we can see quite plainly that it’s happening in an illegitimate way. 


As far as stories go, we’ll call this a combination of tragedy and romance. Actually, it can be rated as two parts tragedy and one part romance. The truth will be revealed in the end. Sadly, however, at this point Christian has died on the battlefield and Cyrano has been mortally wounded. Therefore, the tone leans more toward tragedy than romance. Luke’s thirteenth chapter likewise proceeds into the arena of tragedy. The legitimate path has been rejected. It’s the illegitimate path that holds all of the appeal. It leads you to the doorstep of the Kingdom—but it doesn’t lead you into the heart of that majestic Kingdom. Why would anybody want to favor this path over the legitimate path? 


Perhaps it’s because the legitimate path involves an element of challenge. It requires a sense of discipline. Possibly this explains why we are hearing something about the subject of discipline in our second reading (Heb. 12:5-11). Furthermore, the legitimate path takes us in an uphill direction. At times we feel as if we are scaling a vast mountain. And maybe this would explain why we have a mountain being featured in our Old Testament selection (Isaiah 66:18-21). In no way can the legitimate path be described as an easy path. The temptation is to go rogue, so that you are forging your own path. But ask yourself: Where will it lead me? It seems that it will usher you to the doorstep, but no further. And as a result, your story transitions from promise to tragedy. It becomes a tragedy when, all the while, it was intended to be a glorious romance. 

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