Reflection on the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

I read these readings several weeks ago to begin reflecting on them. And then I went to the LCWR meetings and heard messages of hope, inclusion and new forms of life in the Church that are needed to continue the work of the Gospels. When I reread these readings, I was surprised to see an Old Testament reading that seems to focus on inclusion and interdependence. The reading from Isaiah says, “I know their works and their thoughts, and I come to gather nations of every language; …  I will set a sign among them; from them I will send fugitives to the nations; … and they shall proclaim my glory among the nations. They shall bring all your brothers and sisters from all the nations as an offering to the Lord.” Of course, when the reading speaks of coming on mules and dromedaries, I remembered the photos of Mary Ann McGivern, Martha Alderson and Paulette Peterson on camels in Morocco. More importantly, as we celebrate 55 years of co-membership in Loretto, I thought of all of our sisters and co-members who have traveled to other nations around the globe, including Central and South America, Africa, China, Vietnam and Canada. Through these experiences and our experiences here in the U.S., we have learned how interconnected nations are and how life on Earth depends on our understanding of the life-giving connections to all of creation.

When I reread the Gospel I was struck by the response to the question of whether only a few or many will be saved. Jesus says, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” Jesus describes the gate as narrow and says many will not have the strength to get through the gate. That made me wonder if he had a sense of what could happen as he told people that it was not the set of prescribed external behaviors given to the Jewish people that would bring eternal life with God. In some ways, the Jewish rules and rituals, like the Catholic rules and rituals, that tell people here is the way to heaven can be easier to do, but they may be more external and may not provide a deep and lasting relationship with God. The internal life of faith, the relationship with the Divine is essential. It is harder to live a life of love, to love everyone, to love your neighbor in a global context and to recognize our need for each other. 

For me, it speaks of the need for a community of faith where support and challenges are part of the mix. In Loretto I think we recognized our desire and our need to be in relationship with others, and created co-membership as an expression of an important relationship where values and mission work are shared. We are all blessed by our connections to one another and each one’s work. I think of Barbara Wander and the community of sisters in Haiti who are part of our mission, and I think of the work of Susan Classen and JoAnn Gates who carry on our retreat centers on behalf of Loretto.

Further on in the Gospel Jesus says, “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.” Again, we are reminded that all the people on Earth are part of God’s plan and salvation, and that each person is valued by God. 

When I hear that the last will be first and the first will be last, I think we may need to reflect on who do I put in the category of “last or least” and who do I say are first among many. We may not be seeing people as God sees people, and that is work that we must continue to do. I may put people in first or last categories of who I am willing to listen to, who has wisdom, who can offer me a new perspective that is needed. Recently I read a quote from someone through LCWR that said, “If we live our lives now as if we’re connected to that bigger picture of religious life, I don’t have to worry about the unknown, because there is a pervasive, solid, deeper call or love that whatever our ministry is, whatever our location is, is beautiful. Things are not falling apart. It is going to grow into something that’s helpful for the wider community for years to come.” That is a perspective that I want to have. Even though it may be harder to live a life of love, to love everyone, and to let go of the familiar, it is our call in these times. 

I also think about the title SOSOG that some co-members created years ago to describe themselves as the “servants of the servants of God.” I believe we are all called to a form of servant leadership; “leadership that emphasizes the well-being of those we lead, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment.” Others will lead in the future, and we have the opportunity, as servant leaders, to empower and support them.