21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 66:18-21 (JB)

A reading from the prophet Isaiah

They will gather all of your people from all nations.

The Lord says this: I am coming to gather the nations of every language. They shall come to witness my glory. I will give them a sign and send some of their survivors to the nations: to Tarshish, Put, Lud, Moshech, Rosh, Tubal, and Javan, to the distant islands that have never heard of me or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory to the nations. As an offering to the Lord they will bring all your brothers, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules, on dromedaries, from all the nations to my holy mountain in Jerusalem, says the Lord, like Israelites bringing oblations in clean vessels to the Temple of the Lord. And of some of them I will make priests and Levites, says the Lord.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Isaiah 66:18-21 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah

Thus says the Lord:

“For I know their works and their thoughts,

and I am coming to gather all nations and tongues;

and they shall come and shall see my glory,

and I will set a sign among them.

“From them I will send survivors to the nations,

to Tarshish, Put, and Lud-which draw the bow-

to Tubal and Javan,

to the coastlands far away

that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory;

and they shall declare my glory among the nations.

“They shall bring all your kindred 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 a grain offering

in a clean vessel to the house of the Lord.”

“And I will also take some of them as priests and as Levites,”

says the Lord.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 116 (JB)

R. Go out to all the world

and tell the Good News.

or

R. Alleluia!

O praise the Lord, all you nations,

acclaim him all you peoples! R.

Strong is his love for us;

he is faithful for ever. R.

Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13 (JB)

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews

The Lord disciplines those he loves.

Have you forgotten that encouraging text in which you are addressed as sons? My son, when the Lord corrects you, do not treat it lightly; but do not get discouraged when he reprimands you. For the Lord trains the ones that he loves and he punishes all those that he acknowledges as his sons. Suffering is part of your training; God is treating you as his sons. Has there ever been any son whose father did not train him? Of course, any punishment is most painful at the time, and far from pleasant; but later, in those on whom it has been used, it bears fruit in peace and goodness. So hold up your limp arms and steady your trembling knees and smooth out the path you tread; then the injured limb will not be wrenched, it will grow strong again.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13 (NRSV)

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews

And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children-

“My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

or lose heart when you are punished by him;

for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves,

and chastises every child whom he accepts.”

Endure trials for the sake of discipline.

God is treating you as children;

for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline?

Now, discipline always seems painful

rather than pleasant at the time,

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.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

John 14:6 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the way, the truth, and the life, says the Lord;

no one comes to the Father, except through me.

Alleluia!

John 14:6 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the way, the truth, and the life, says the Lord;

no one comes to the Father, except through me.

Alleluia!

Luke 13:22-30 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

From East and West they will come to take their place in the kingdom of God.

Through towns and villages Jesus went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem. Someone said to him, ‘Sir, will there be only a few saved?’ He said to them, ‘Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.

‘Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself knocking on the door, saying, “Lord, open to us” but he will answer, “I do not know where you come from.” Then you will find yourself saying, “We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets” but he will reply, “I do not know where you come from. Away from me, all you wicked men!”

‘Then there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves turned outside. And men from the east and west, from north and south, will come to take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.

‘Yes, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 13:22-30 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke

Jesus went through one town and village after another,

teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.

Someone asked him,

“Lord, will only a few be saved?”

Jesus said to them,

“Strive to enter through the narrow door;

for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.

“When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door,

and you begin to stand outside

and to knock at the door, saying,

‘Lord, open to us,’

then in reply he will say to you,

‘I do not know where you come from.’

“Then you will begin to say,

‘We ate and drank with you,

and you taught in our streets.’

But the Lord will say,

‘I do not know where you come from;

go away from me, all you evildoers!’

“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,

and you yourselves thrown out.

Then people will come from east and west,

from north and south,

and will eat in the kingdom of God.

“Indeed, some are last who will be first,

and some are first who will be last.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.