23 Aug Friday

One of the key theological and anthropological terms running through the readings for this coming weekend is the whole notion of developing and conforming the disciple in the culture of Jesus. As aspect of this is in the first reading, the work of the great ingathering, which is to say that the disciple is a missionary and an evangelist.

The letter to the Hebrews passage contributes another aspect — discipleship is work, in other words it does not come easily. It is the Father’s work in us through grace that we achieve full discipleship; we do not do it on our own. An example, is that the master gymnast, skater, violinist only gets there after the discipline of much practice and work. Jesus’ saying about striving to enter through the narrow gate again is about discipleship, the formation of self and community into a Catholic culture. By Catholic, the readings mean a universalism that surpasses human divisions and hierarchies.