Discipline and the Narrow Path

Boy, did the readings today speak to me!  They were both encouraging and intimidating.  I certainly don't want to be one of the ones left knocking on the door only to hear Jesus say, "I do not know where you are from.  Depart from me, you evildoer!"  No, I want to be on the lookout for that narrow gate and be prepared to enter it.


The 2nd reading reminds me of where I am sorely lacking - not in my faith in God, but in my self-discipline while I am here on earth.  I think I do a pretty good job when it comes to disciplining my children, but I am horribly inconsistent in holding myself to the same high standards.  At some point, my children will be even more aware that I don't ensure that I eat as well-rounded meals as I require them to.  They'll see they have a bedtime and note those mornings when I am exhausted because I wasn't responsible enough to get myself in bed at a decent time.


If I love God, who loves me and has given my my life to use in glory for him, as a temple, then I need to love myself enough to discipline myself accordingly.  This has long been a struggle for me.  I just don't stick with good habits (good food choices and amounts, specifically, as well as consistency in prayer time) and cannot seem to keep myself accountable.  It seems that for these things, too, I will need to enlist an accountability partner.


I need to strengthen my drooping hands by raising them more to Him and to strengthen my weak knees by putting the weight of my body on them in prayer.  The pain of discipline is still a pain to me, but I look hopefully to enjoying the peaceful fruit of righteousness.  I'm hopeful to be healed and I'm hopeful to start anew in embracing the discipline spoken of in the Holy Scriptures.


So, if you feel so motivated, feel free to ask me how I'm doing on prayer and self-discipline.  I think it will help guide these feet straight.


Blessings!

Heb 12:5-7, 11-13

Reading 2

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.

Lk 13:22-30

Gospel

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.”