21st Sunday of the Year (C)

Paraphrasing the Sunday Readings

Author's note: This Sunday, there are three paraphrases of the readings: from the book of Isaiah, the letter to the Hebrews, and the gospel of Luke. Paraphrasing of the Sunday gospel is a method taught in Maryhill School of Theology. The method I used is only an adaptation of the original, which was formatted in a blackboard. The method by our theology professor was for exegetical purposes. My purpose is to format it in poetic/prosaic form for clarity of understanding and reflection.

From Sunday Readings: Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

21st Sunday of the Year (C), August 25, 2013 - (Edited for August 24, 2025)

Liturgical readings
Isaiah 66:18-21
Psalm 117
Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13
Luke 13:22-30


Paraphrase of Isaiah 66:18-21

"The Lord has come to gather nations of every language."



"I come to gather nations of every language;


they shall come and see my glory.


I will set a sign among them;


from them I will send
        fugitives to the nations;
            to Tarshish
            Put and Lud,
            Mosoch,
            Tubal and Javan,
        to the distant coastlands
        that have never heard of my fame,
        or seen my glory;


and they shall proclaim my glory
        among the nations.

They shall bring all your brethren
        from all the nations
        as an offering to the Lord,
            on horses and in chariots,
            in carts,
            upon mules and dromedaries,


to Jerusalem my holy mountain,"


says the Lord,


"just as the Israelites bring their offering
to the house of the Lord in clean vessels.


Some of these I will take as priests and Levites,"


says the Lord.


Paraphrase of Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13


"That your halting limbs may not be dislocated but healed."


You have forgotten the encouraging words
addressed to you as sons:


"My sons,
do not disdain the discipline of the Lord
nor lose heart when he reproves you;


For,
whom the Lord loves,
he disciplines;


he scourges every son he receives.


Endure your trials as the discipline of God
who deals with you as sons.


For what son is there
whom his father does not discipline?


At the time it is administered,
all discipline seems a cause for grief
and not for joy,


but later it brings forth
the fruit of peace and justice
to those who are trained in its school.


So
strengthen your drooping hands
and your weak knees.


Make straight the paths you walk on,


that your halting limbs
may not be dislocated but healed."




Paraphrase of Luke 13:22-30


"People will come from the east...west...north...south...and take their place in the kingdom of God."


Jesus went through cities and towns


teaching --


all the while
making his way toward Jerusalem.


Someone asked him,


"Lord,
are they few in number
who are to be saved?"


He replied:


"Try to come in through the narrow door.


Many,
I tell you,
will try to enter and be unable."


"When once the master of the house has risen
to lock the door
and you stand outside
knocking and saying,


'Sir,
open for us,'


he will say in reply,


'I do not know where you come from.
Away from me, you evildoers!'"


"There will be wailing and grinding of teeth
when you see
        Abraham,
        Isaac,
        Jacob,
        and all the prophets
safe in the kingdom of God


and you yourselves rejected.


People will come from
        the east
        and the west,
        from the north
        and the south,
and will take their place
at the feast in the kingdom of God.


Some who are last
        will be first
and some who are first
        will be last."

20th Sunday of the Year (C)

Paraphrasing the Gospel for Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

Paraphrase of the Sunday gospel

20th Sunday of the Year (C), August 18, 2013 (edited 8/17/25)

Liturgical readings
Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10
Psalm 40
Hebrews 12:1-4
Luke 12:49-53

"Jesus has come to light a fire on the earth."


Jesus said to his disciples:


"I have come
to light a fire on the earth.


How I wish the blaze were ignited!


I have a baptism to receive.


What anguish I feel till it is over!



Do you think I have come
to establish peace on the earth?


I assure you,
the contrary is true;


Wherever your treasure lies,
there your heart will be.


I have come for division.


From now on,
a household of five
will be divided
three against two
and two against three;


father will be split against son
and son against father,


mother against daughter
and daughter against mother,


mother-in-law against daughter-in-law,
daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."


Scripture verses from the Sunday Readings:
"The Lord heard my cry. He drew me out of the pit of destruction." (Psalm 40)
"You are my help and my deliverer,  O my God, hold not back." (Psalm 40)
"Let us aside every encumbrance of sin which clings to us and persevere in running the race which lies ahead." (Hebrews 12)
"Many shall look on in awe and trust in the Lord." (Psalm 40)

19th Sunday of the Year (C)

Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2008 (A), 2009 (B), and 2010 (C)

19th Sunday of the Year (C), August 8, 2010 (edited for 8/11/25)

Liturgical readings
Wisdom 18:6-9
Psalm 33
Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19
Luke 12:32-48

Paraphrase of the Sunday gospel

The Lord said, "Who in your opinion is that faithful, farsighted steward..?"

Jesus said to his disciples:

Do not live in fear, little flock.

It has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom.

Sell what you have and give alms.

Get purses for yourself that do not wear out, a never-failing treasure with the Lord which no thief comes near nor any moth destroys.

Wherever your treasure lies, there your heart will be.

Let your belts be fastened around your waists and your lamps be burning ready.

Be like a man awaiting their master's return from a wedding, so that when he arrives and knocks, you will open for him without delay.

It will go well with those servants whom the master finds wide-awake on his return.

I tell you, he will put on an apron, seat them at table, and proceed to wait on them.

Should he happen to come at midnight or before sunrise and find them prepared, it will go well with them.

You know as well as I that if the head of the house knew when the thief was coming he would not let him break into his house.

Be on guard, therefore.

The Son of Man will come when you least expect him."

Peter said,

"Do you intend this parable for us, Lord, or do you mean it for the whole world?"

The Lord said,

"Who in your opinion is that faithful, farsighted steward whom the master will set over his servants to dispense their ration of grain in season?

That servant is fortunate whom his master finds busy when he returns

Assuredly, his master will put him in charge of all his property.

But if the servant says to himself,

'My master is taking his time about coming,'

and begins to abuse the housemen and servant girls, to eat and drink and get drunk,

that servant's master will come back on a day when he does not expect him, at a time he does not know.

The slave who knew his master's wishes but did not prepare to fulfill them will get a severe beating, whereas the one who did not know them and who nonetheless deserved to be flogged will get off with fewer stripes.

When much has been given a man, much will be required of him.

More will be asked of a man to whom more has been entrusted."

Scripture quotes for reflection

• "Your people awaited the salvation of the just and the destruction of their foes." (Wisdom 18)
• "Our soul waits for the Lord, who is our help and our shield." (Psalm 33)
• "Faith is confident assurance concerning what we hope for, and conviction about things we do not see." (Hebrews 11)
• "The eyes of the Lord are upon those who hope for his kindness." (Psalm 33)

Gospel reflection

"That servant is fortunate whom his Master finds busy when He returns."

After the parable of the rich fool last Sunday, we again continue to listen to Luke's gospel. And the theme of pursuing eternal riches developed in last Sunday's Eucharist continues this Sunday in Luke 12:33-34. This theme of "Get purses for yourself that do not wear out, a never-failing treasure with the Lord which no thief comes near nor any moth destroys" is combined with the theme of preparedness for the return of the Son of Man (Luke 12:35-48) in the second part of the gospel. What can be the liturgical reason? It is because we are nearing the end of the year's liturgy with Christ the King on the 34th Sunday of the Year (and the beginning of Advent, Year A). So we have to expect additional themes of preparing for Christ's coming in the coming Sunday gospels. The coming gospels before the end of the year, through the mouth of the Lord, will teach the importance of 'preparedness'. And how to prepare? With vigilance, diligence, faithful service, and responsible stewardship.

Reading this Sunday's gospel passage more closely, we will notice that the term "servant" Luke uses in the parable, is transformed into the phrase "faithful, farsighted steward" towards the middle part of the gospel passage. This "servant" Jesus speaks of is obliged to busy himself, and take good care of his Master's household. So when his Master returns and he has fulfilled all what is required him, he is judged as fortunate. But if he does otherwise, his Master will punish him severely.

All of us baptized Christians have responsibilities, that are based on each one's respective states of life and work. Some are required to do more; others much less. Some are entrusted with more; others with less. What Jesus says as important for all is that to whom much is given, much is required. And more also will be asked of whom more has been entrusted. How fortunate those who have less, because they are not overburdened with the responsibilities of those who have more. But whatever one's political, economic, or social status, in the spiritual and temporal journey of the Christian life, whenever in the course of a lifetime one has less or more, each one still has to follow the counsel of Jesus: be vigilant, diligent, faithful in service (work or apostolate), and continue to be responsible in whatever has been entrusted. No one is exempted from temptation, whether one has less or more. So constant practice of the virtues, as well as a disciplined life of prayer and work will prepare all well with the faith, hope, and love one needs before the "Master's return".

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