DISCIPLINE.
August 21, 2022
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time – C.
“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.” Hebrews 12:5
An Icelandic proverb says: “He who lives without discipline
dies without honor.” And an Irish proverb adds: There is no luck except where
there is discipline.”
Life is all about all that one gives himself as a discipline
and how that leads to fulfillment and happiness.
What does it mean, discipline? The dictionaries answer, that
it is the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior,
using punishment to correct disobedience. And somewhere else, we can read:
Discipline provides people with rules to live their lives efficiently and
effectively. The idea is that when a person has discipline in their life, they
can make small sacrifices in the present for a better life in the future.
Discipline creates habits, habits make routines, and routines become who the
person is daily. The most useful and effective disciplines are those one
imposes on himself. It easily turns into a routine and is accepted with
positivity.
In the inner sense, a discipline is an act of love. In
today's second reading, one can read: “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.”
After and besides being a sign of love, discipline is aimed
to train and strengthen. I may spend hours and hours speaking of how much
betterment I harvest from some disciplines I imposed myself through sports.
Running 60kms may seem like a crazy thing to do. But when you discipline
yourself to it, the joy is inestimable. Biking 100kms the same way. You lose
weight, but you gain strength. Thus, the saying of the author of the Letter to
the Hebrews, "At the time, all discipline seems a cause, not for joy but
pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are
trained by it."
In the first reading, the Lord, through Isaiah speaks of his
people. It is a word of hope after the time of exile. The time in Babylonia
could be seen as a moment the Lord uses to discipline them. Now, he will
restore them in glory. Life events can seem painful. Situations can lead to
discouragement. But we must always keep in mind that God does not punish those he
loves. He only disciplines them. He did it with his people Israel. He also does
this with each of us.
In the Gospel, through images and parables, the Lord Jesus
speaks of the goodness of discipline. To the one who asked about salvation, he
says, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will
attempt to enter but will not be strong enough." That is, discipline
oneself to be fit for God's kingdom. Without discipline, no one can reach
salvation.
It is not enough to bear the name of a Christian. It is not
enough to be a good churchgoer. The Lord says: "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."
Many are we who take our belongingness to the Church as a reason to not take any discipline. We think it is enough to have been baptized or to be a priest or whatsoever. If we do not accept discipline, great will be our surprise to hear the Lord tell us, "I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers! I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!" Faith needs discipline. Love grows with discipline. Hope is nourished on discipline.
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