Discipline

"Your focus needs more focus."
--Mr Han (The Karate Kid)

Today's second reading from Hebrews 12 notes the importance of discipline. Discipline can be viewed as internal focus that does not waver in the face of external 'noise.'

Achieving difficult goals requires discipline, lest we become distracted or give up.

Developing discipline is hard work and might require an individual to deal with considerable pain. Athletes, for example, might endure much physical discomfort in pursuit of disciplined training regimens.

But the pain associated with discipline may not be limited to the physical variety. Chastisement of others, temptation to reduce focus, and emotional letdowns from setbacks create mental anguish that could dwarf physical pain in many instances.

Paul tells us that the pain associated with discipline is worth it, for "later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

It is easy to associate the lesson of the second reading with the question posed in today's gospel from Luke 13. Someone asks Jesus whether only a few will be saved. Christ replies that the door will be narrow. Make every effort to come in through the door, he advises, because many will try to enter and will be unable to do so.

Through discipline, we can become unwavering in our focus on making it through that door.