Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection August 24, 2025
Sunday – 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
24th August 2025 (Sunday)
Psalter: Week 1
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Isaiah 66:18-21
Thus says the Lord: “For I know their works and their thoughts, and the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory, and I will set a sign among them. And from them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands far away, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the nations. And they shall bring all your brothers from all the nations as an offering to the Lord, on horses and in chariots and in litters and on mules and on dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the Lord, just as the Israelites bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the Lord. And some of them also I will take for priests and for Levites, says the Lord.
Psalm 117:1, 2 R.(Mk 16:15)
R/. Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel.
Second Reading: Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13
Brrethren: Have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. I am the way, and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel: Luke 13:22-30
At that time; Jesus went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Sunday – 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Main Point: Our destiny is to enter the reign of God, to be in eternal communion with Him, to celebrate life with Him. But how to enter there? What will qualify us to enter the reign of God?
1. Hear what the Lord says in the gospel: “Many will say, ‘we ate and drank with you, we listened to you teaching us’. But I will respond, ‘I never knew you, depart from me, you evildoers”.
2. Really Shocking and frightening words of Jesus in the gospel. The God who said, “I knew you even before you were formed in your mother’s womb” (Jer 5. 1); He who said, “I know you by your name” (Is 43. 1); He who said, “I have written your names in the palm of my hands” (Is 49. 16). The same Lord says to us now, “I do not know you”.
What does this mean?
3. In the first place, just celebrating some occasions of eating and drinking together, or some occasions of listening to the teachings of the Lord, will not merit anyone to enter the kingdom. These are good but not enough.
4. These may be matters of convenience, which do not demand much. But what the Lord expects is sacrifice and commitment. In other words, this is entering through the narrow door.
5. Many times many try to enter through the broad door, and not through the narrow door. That is, many prefer to do what is convenient, what does not demand much from them, and not what is difficult and committing. We can examine some simple details:
6. It may be convenient to eat and drink together in partying, but is more difficult to participate in the Eucharistic meal. It may be convenient to listen to the Lord’s teachings but is more difficult to put them into practice. It is convenient to participate in a function that is organized but is more difficult to work towards organizing it.
7. It is convenient to spend time happily in a shallow chatting and yapping, but is more difficult to allot some time to speak about God and good things. It is convenient to divert oneself to worthless things but is more difficult to concentrate on worthwhile things.
8. It is convenient to take a dog for a daily walk or go to the gym or shopping mall but is more difficult to walk to God’s place even once a week. It is convenient to find space and time for some relaxation and diversion but is more difficult to find even a little moment for a little reflection.
9. It is convenient to spend money on what is for pleasure but is difficult to give away a little money for what is good for others. It is convenient to participate in some holy activities but is difficult to become holy. It is convenient to run here and there, day and night even for family obligations or work demands but is difficult to care for the duties toward God and good.
10. It is convenient to do some charity once in a while but is difficult to be charitable in everyday life. It is convenient to sing beautifully God’s praises but is difficult to restrain criticism and slander. It is still convenient to attend holy mass as a holy tradition but is difficult to live daily that spirit of the holy mass in unity, humility, sacrifice, and love.
11. What to do then? Enter through the narrow door. What does it mean? Do not seek shortcuts or easy means. Do not seek convenience or compromise. Understand the love of the Lord. Understand the value and role of discipline in our life.
12. Understand that God disciplines His children whom He loves. Allow God to discipline us. Be enduring even though for the moment all discipline seems painful and unpleasant. Be sure that it yields later the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
13. Therefore, as the Lord exhorts us, “Lift your drooping hands. Strengthen your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet. And heal what is lame and dislocated”.
My Practice: We shall be clear that we cannot please God merely with our wonderful celebrations or spiritual activities. They should lead us to be workers of good
