Posted on 10/24/2007 9:25:47 AM PDT by Salvation
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Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week
in Ordinary Time
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Reading 1
Rom 6:12-18
Brothers and sisters:
Sin must not reign over your mortal bodies
so that you obey their desires.
And do not present the parts of your bodies to sin
as weapons for wickedness,
but present yourselves to God as raised from the dead to life
and the parts of your bodies to God
as weapons for righteousness.
For sin is not to have any power over you,
since you are not under the law but under grace.
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law
but under grace?
Of course not!
Do you not know that if you present yourselves
to someone as obedient slaves,
you are slaves of the one you obey,
either of sin, which leads to death,
or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
But thanks be to God that, although you were once slaves of sin,
you have become obedient from the heart
to the pattern of teaching to which you were entrusted.
Freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 124:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8
R. (8a) Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Had not the LORD been with us,
let Israel say, had not the LORD been with us–
When men rose up against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive;
When their fury was inflamed against us.
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;
The torrent would have swept over us;
over us then would have swept the raging waters.
Blessed be the LORD, who did not leave us
a prey to their teeth.
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
We were rescued like a bird
from the fowlers’ snare;
Broken was the snare,
and we were freed.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Gospel
Lk 12:39-48
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be sure of this:
if the master of the house had known the hour
when the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
Then Peter said,
“Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?”
And the Lord replied,
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward
whom the master will put in charge of his servants
to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.
Truly, I say to you, he will put him
in charge of all his property.
But if that servant says to himself,
‘My master is delayed in coming,’
and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants,
to eat and drink and get drunk,
then that servant’s master will come
on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour
and will punish the servant severely
and assign him a place with the unfaithful.
That servant who knew his master’s will
but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will
shall be beaten severely;
and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will
but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating
shall be beaten only lightly.
Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,
and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”
Collect: Father, you endowed Anthony Claret with the strength of love and patience to preach the Gospel to many nations. By the help of his prayers may we work generously for your kingdom and gain our brothers and sisters for Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Optional Memorial of St. Anthony Claret, bishop
Old Calendar: St. Raphael the Archangel
Today the Church celebrates the optional memorial of St. Anthony Claret, bishop, the founder of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Anthony Mary Claret died in the Cistercian monastery at Fontfroide in France on this date in 1870. He was canonized in 1950 and listed in the Roman Calendar in 1960.
Before the reform of the Roman Calendar in 1969, this was the feast of St. Raphael, the Archangel. In the present calendar this feast is celebrated on September 29 with two other archangels, St. Michael and St. Gabriel.
Anthony was born at Salent in the Diocese of Vich in Catalonia, Spain, in the year in which Napoleon invaded Spain. He was trained for manual labor, since his father was a weaver, but in 1829 he entered the seminary at Vich. Ordained to the priesthood in 1835, he was assigned as pastor in his home parish. Later he went to Rome to work for the Propagation of the Faith. He also entered the novitiate of the Jesuits but had to leave because of ill health, so he returned to Spain and was assigned as pastor of a parish. His apostolate consisted of rural preaching, conferences for the clergy and publications (he wrote more than 150 books). Because of his successful apostolate he aroused the animosity of some of the clergy and as a result he left Catalonia for the Canary Islands (1848). After a year he returned to Catalonia and resumed his preaching apostolate. In 1849 Anthony gathered together five priests who formed the basis of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (popularly known as Claretians). At the suggestion of the Queen of Spain, Isabella II, Anthony was named archbishop of Santiago, Cuba (1850). For the next seven years he made pastoral visitations, preached against the slavery of the Negroes, and regularized numerous marriages. As a result of his activity he was frequently threatened with death and on one occasion an attempt was actually made on his life. In 1857 he was recalled to Spain as confessor to the queen. In this way he was able to exert some influence in the naming of bishops, set up a center of ecclesiastical studies at the Escorial, and work towards the recognition of religious orders in Spain. In 1869 he was in Rome, preparing for the First Vatican Council. He followed Isabella II into exile and at the insistence of the Spanish ambassador, was placed under house arrest in the Cistercian monastery at Fontfroide, where he died at the age of 63. His remains were ultimately returned to Vich.
Excerpted from Saints of the Roman Calendar by Enzo Lodi
Patron: Catholic press; Claretians; Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary; weavers; savings banks; foundations.
Things to Do:
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 35 (36) |
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| The sinner's wickedness; God's goodness |
| Evil whispers to the sinner in the depths of his heart: the fear of God does not stand before his eyes. Evil’s flattering light disguises his wickedness, so that he does not hate it. His words are false and deceitful, he no longer considers how to do good. Even when in bed he plots mischief; he follows the wrong path; he does not hate malice. Lord, your mercy fills the heavens, your faithfulness rises to the sky. Your justice is like the mountains of God, your judgements are like the deeps of the sea. Lord, you protect both men and beasts. How precious is your kindness, O God! The sons of men will take shelter under your wings; they will eat their fill from the riches of your house, drink all they want from the stream of your joy. For with you is the spring of life-giving water, in your light we see true light. Hold out your mercy to those who know you, offer your justice to the upright in heart. Let me not be crushed under the heels of the proud, nor dispossessed by the hands of sinners. The doers of evil have fallen where they stood, they are cast down and cannot rise. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Canticle | Judith 16 |
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| The Lord, creator of the world, protects his people | |
| Make music to my God with drums, sing to my Lord with cymbals. Begin a new song to him, extol and call upon his name. You are the God who crushes battle-lines, you set up your camp among your people, you save me from the grip of my persecutors. I will sing a new song to God: Lord, you are great and glorious, wonderful in your unconquerable power. Let all your creatures serve you, for you spoke and they were made, you sent forth your spirit, and they were created: there is no-one who can resist your command. For the mountains will be shaken to their roots, the seas will be stirred up, at your sight the rocks will melt like wax – but to those who fear you, you will show your loving kindness. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Psalm 46 (47) |
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| The Lord is King |
| All nations, clap your hands; cry out to God in exultation, for the Lord, the Most High, is greatly to be feared, and King over all the earth. He has made whole peoples our subjects, put nations beneath our feet. He has chosen our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. God ascends amid rejoicing, the Lord goes up with trumpet blast. Sing to God, sing praise. Sing to our king, sing praise. God is king over the whole earth: sing to him with all your skill. God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. The nobles of the peoples join together with the people of the God of Abraham, for to God belong the armies of the earth; he is high above all things. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Short reading | Tobias 4:14 - 19 © |
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| Be careful, my child, in all you do, well-disciplined in all your behaviour. Do to no one what you would not want done to you. Give your bread to those who are hungry, and your clothes to those who are naked. Whatever you own in plenty, devote a proportion to almsgiving. Bless the Lord God in everything; beg him to guide your ways and bring your paths and purposes to their end. | |
| Canticle | Benedictus |
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| The Messiah and his forerunner | |
| Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption. He has raised up the sign of salvation in the house of his servant David, as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones, his prophets through the ages: to rescue us from our enemies and all who hate us, to take pity on our fathers, to remember his holy covenant and the oath he swore to Abraham our father, that he would give himself to us, that we could serve him without fear – freed from the hands of our enemies – in uprightness and holiness before him, for all of our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path, to let his people know their salvation, so that their sins may be forgiven. Through the bottomless mercy of our God, one born on high will visit us to give light to those who walk in darkness, who live in the shadow of death; to lead our feet in the path of peace. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. |
| Listen to our prayers, God our salvation: make us hold fast to the light and work for the truth. Just as you have made us children of light, so make us worthy to bear witness to you before all the world. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. |
| May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life. |
| A M E N |
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| Other Articles by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D. Printer Friendly Version |
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| Our Gifts Spell Out Our Responsibilities | ||
Rom 6:12-18 / Lk 12:39-48
We can get ourselves in a lot of trouble by playing the comparison game: She has more of this than I do; he has more of that; he's twice as fast as I am, and she's twice as smart. Making those kinds of comparisons, which may or may not be true, can blind us to our own very real gifts. It's strange but true that many people have never really noticed the gifts that make them special and unique. And as a result, they've never used them in anything but a haphazard way.
That's not what God had in mind in giving the gifts: they are for using — all of them! And those who fail to do so will impoverish both themselves and others, because gifts are never given just for us alone. They are for the family, God's family.
And that leads us to today's question: Have we spotted our gifts, all of them, and named them, and carried them where they're needed? A truly content and peaceful heart is usually a good indicator that the answer is 'yes.' And a restless, uneasy heart bears the sad news that we haven't. If the latter is the truth for you, don't let the matter rest there. Look for the gifts, and for those who need them, with a more discerning and attentive eye. You'll be surprised at how clear the answers become when you're paying attention. And you'll like the feel of a contented and peaceful heart.
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Prepare the Way
Wednesday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Luke 12: 39-48 Introductory Prayer: God our Father, you created me to glorify you. I pray I will be able to have you ever present in my life as I journey towards your Kingdom. Allow me to be a tireless apostle. Help me serve you by serving others. Petition: Lord, grant me the grace to experience your kindness and will. 1. The True Encounter When a friend of mine got caught taking a snack without permission, his mother reprimanded him. He said, “If I had known you were watching, I would not have taken it.” How often do we treat God like this? We do not truly prepare the way for him; we look for loopholes and try to draw limits or lines between what is a sin or not. We think being prepared is some sort of game in which we avoid sin, but fulfill every desire right up to the limit of sin. The true encounter is not a game. It asks, “How can I love God more or how can I be a truer friend of his?” It asks, “What are God’s likes and dislikes; what are his desires?” 2. The Master’s Will “Thy will be done.” We pray these words every day. We know that our sanctification comes from doing God’s will, but how often do we turn from that will because we lose sight of our master, just as this servant did? Prayer is the key to staying united to the will of the Father. Prayer keeps us in contact with God, creating a unity between persons and giving us the strength to have his presence continually in our hearts. If we do not renew the presence of God in our hearts and minds every day, we tend to fill them with other images and idols, little by little growing spiritually tepid. Our sinful tendencies creep in, and the most horrendous sins may follow. 3. Much Given, Much Required God will ask of us only in proportion to what we have received. God has given each person many beautiful gifts. He has given them in order for us to collaborate with him in bringing others to know, love, and serve him, transmitting his love to all humanity. Do I use the qualities God has given me to help extend his Kingdom? I will be asked for a tally of how I put God’s great gifts to use. Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, help me to be holy -- which is nothing other than recognizing your work in my soul and bringing it to completion. You have given me much, and now it is my turn to give to others. Resolution: I will use one of the many talents I have to serve someone else today. |
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 26 (27) |
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| Keeping faith in time of peril |
| The Lord is my light and my help: whom should I fear? The Lord protects my life: what could terrify me? When they come to do me harm, to consume my flesh, my enemies and my persecutors, it is they who stumble and fall. If their armies encamp against me, my heart will not fear; if battle flares up against me, even then will I hope. One thing I beg of the Lord, one thing will I ask: that I may live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, so that I may behold the joys of the Lord and always see his temple. For he will shelter me in his tent in the time of evils. He will hide me in the hidden parts of the tabernacle; then raise me up on a rock, lift me high up above the enemies who surround me. In his tabernacle I will offer him a sacrifice of shouts, of songs, of psalms to the Lord. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Psalm 26 (27) |
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| Listen, Lord, to my voice as I cry: have mercy and listen to me. “Seek his face”, my heart has said, and so I will seek your face, O Lord. Do not turn your face away from me, do not turn from your servant in anger. You are my helper, do not reject me; do not abandon me, God, my help. For when my father and mother have abandoned me, the Lord will take me up. Show me your ways, Lord, and guide me along the right path, out of the reach of my enemies. Do not hand me over to the whim of those who would persecute me, when lying witnesses have risen up against me, with those who plan to do me violence. I trust I shall see the joys of the Lord in the land of the living. Hope in the Lord, be brave, let your heart take comfort and trust in the Lord. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Canticle | (Colossians 1) |
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| Christ, firstborn of all creatures and firstborn from the dead | |
| Let us give thanks to God the Father, who has made us worthy to share in the light that is the saints’ inheritance. He has rescued us from the power of the shadows and brought us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation, for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, thrones and dominations, principalities and powers. All things were created through him and for him: he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the Church. He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, and so he is pre-eminent above all. For it was the Father’s will that the fullness of God should dwell in him, and that through him all things should be reconciled to himself. Through the blood of the Cross he brought peace to all things, both on Earth and in the heavens. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Short reading | James 1:22 - 25 © |
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| You must do what the word tells you, and not just listen to it and deceive yourselves. But the man who looks steadily at the perfect law of freedom and makes that his habit – not listening and then forgetting, but actively putting it into practice – will be happy in all that he does. | |
| Canticle | Magnificat |
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| My soul rejoices in the Lord | |
| My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation. For he has shown me such favour – me, his lowly handmaiden. Now all generations will call me blessed, because the mighty one has done great things for me. His name is holy, his mercy lasts for generation after generation for those who revere him. He has put forth his strength: he has scattered the proud and conceited, torn princes from their thrones; but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. |
| Lord, support us as we pray to you, and keep us day and night under your protection. Guide us as we live in this world of change, and let your own unchangeability be a firm foundation for us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. |
| May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life. |
| A M E N |
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Wednesday, October 24, 2007 Meditation Luke 12:39-48 "Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more." (Luke 12:48) As twenty-first-century Catholics, we have certainly been entrusted with “more.” We’ve been given a legacy of solid teaching, a long tradition of loving care for the neediest, a rich and beautiful liturgy, and a multitude of saints to inspire and pray for us. In our baptism we received forgiveness of sin and new life in union with God. Through confirmation we received the Holy Spirit to energize and direct us. Day by day we can choose to be nourished by the word of God in Scripture and the Eucharist. Of course, with these many gifts we have also been given many responsibilities. Whether we are priests, nuns, religious, parents, or employees, each one of us is expected to work for the glory of God. Each of us is entrusted with the care of others. How do we exercise our God-given authority? Like the servants in Jesus’ parable, we may be working diligently for the Master, making sure our fellow servants get what they need in a timely fashion. Or we may be more self-indulgent, using our position and superior knowledge to our own advantage. The choice is ours, and we have the resources to do what pleases the Master. Doing “more” doesn’t always seem like fun, to be sure. We may not like having to put in an honest day’s work when the labor seems pointless, or lending a hand with something that isn’t part of our job description. It may not seem that significant, either, as when we bless our children at night and read them a bedtime story. And it may be difficult at times, as when we need to encourage those who seek our counsel, or confront them with gentle correction. However, whenever we put others’ needs before our own, we’re always rewarded in the end. When we exercise our God-given talents for the sake of another, we’re blessed by tapping into the overwhelming love he has for us—as well as for those he’s given us to care for! “Divine Master, sometimes I am so burdened by my responsibilities! Help me to trust that you’re the one who takes care of my loved ones, not me. Free me to give of myself unsparingly, and to lighten their load with a joyful heart!” Romans 6:12-18; Psalm 124:1-8 |
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Many of you reading this book have accepted Jesus as Lord of your lives and have been filled with the Holy Spirit. You are children of God. Many of you know, love, and live God's word. Many also celebrate Mass and receive Holy Communion daily, or as often as possible. You are greatly blessed (Mt 13:16). God became a human being to die for you. You share in His resurrection. The Trinity lives within you. You are a member of Christ's body. You have authority over every demon and disease (Mt 10:1). Because of your faith, you can do greater by far than even Jesus did (Jn 14:12). We are not only privileged but also responsible. "More will be asked of a man to whom more has been entrusted" (Lk 12:48). Because of what the Lord has revealed to us and done in our lives, we deserve a severe beating if we fail to give as a gift what He has given to us (Lk 12:47-48; Mt 10:8). We are rightly held to a stricter account (see Jas 3:1). The Lord must demand much more from us than others because we are His mouth, hands and feet — members of His body. Because He wants all to be saved (1 Tm 2:4), He must insist on our spreading the good news of His death and resurrection. The Lord must make strict demands on the saved because He greatly desires to save the lost.One Bread, One Body
<< Wednesday, October 24, 2007 >>
St. Anthony Mary Claret
Romans 6:12-18
Psalm 124
Luke 12:39-48
View Readings
REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
"When much has been given a man, much will be required of him." —Luke 12:48
Prayer: Father, by Your grace may I meet Your expectations.
Promise: "Thanks be to God, though once you were slaves of sin, you sincerely obeyed that rule of teaching which was imparted to you; freed from your sin, you became slaves of justice." —Rm 6:17-18
Praise: St. Anthony Mary Claret founded the Teaching Sisters of Mary Immaculate in Cuba, and a museum, library, schools, and laboratory back in Spain.
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
| This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. In a communal celebration of Compline, one of the penitential acts given in the Missal may be recited. |
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 30 (31) |
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| Trustful prayer in time of adversity |
| O God, protect me; be my refuge. |
| In you, Lord, I put my trust: may I never be put to shame. In your justice, set me free, Turn your ear to me, make haste to rescue me. Be my rampart, my fortification; keep me safe. For you are my strength and my refuge: you will lead me out to the pastures, for your own name’s sake. You will lead me out of the trap that they laid for me – for you are my strength. Into your hands I commend my spirit: you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| O God, protect me; be my refuge. |
| Psalm 129 (130) |
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| Out of the depths |
| Out of the depths I have cried to you, Lord. |
| Out of the depths I have cried to you, Lord: Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears listen out for the voice of my pleading. If you took notice of our transgressions, Lord – Lord, who would be left? But with you is forgiveness, and for this we revere you. I rely on you, Lord, my spirit relies on your promise; my soul hopes in the Lord, more than the watchman for daybreak. More than the watchman for daybreak, let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is kindness and abundant redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all its transgressions. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Out of the depths I have cried to you, Lord. |
| Reading | Ephesians 4:26-27 |
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| Be angry if you must, but do not sin: do not let your anger outlast the sunset: do not give the Devil his chance. | |
| Short Responsory | ? |
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| Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. |
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| Canticle | Nunc Dimittis |
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| Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. | |
| Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace. You have fulfilled your promise. My own eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples. A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness; the glory of your people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. | |
| Prayer | |
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| Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, you lay a gentle yoke upon those who follow you. Meek and humble, you give them a light burden to carry. Receive the work and the prayers we have offered to you today; and give us rest, to make us more eager to serve you, who live and reign for ever and ever, Amen. |
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| May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. |
| A M E N |
From: Romans 6:12-18
Liberation from Sin
[15] What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace?
By no means! [16] Do you not know that if you yield yourselves to any one as
obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which
leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? [17] But thanks
be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from
the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, [18] and,
having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
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Commentary:
12-13. Our body, while forming one substance with our soul, is also an instru-
ment (like a pen in the hand of a writer) which can be used either to do works
of justice and piety or to enter into combat against the spirit. True, it is a “mortal
body”, but, St John Chrysostom comments, “It is not in any sense an evil thing,
because it can be a weapon of holiness and righteousness [...]. Our body stands
between vice and virtue. It is a weapon we can freely put to one use or the other.
The soldier who fights to defend his country uses the same weapons as the
criminal who makes an attempt on the life of his fellow citizens [...]. And so the
body can be an instrument of good or evil depending on what the soul chooses:
it is not naturally disposed to either course” (”Hom. on Rom”, 11).
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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
From: Luke 12:39-48
The Need for Vigilance and the Parable of the Steward (Continuation)
[41] Peter said, “Lord are you telling this parable for us or for all?” [42] And the
Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set
over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? [43]
Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. [44]
Truly I tell you, he will set him over all his possessions. [45] But if that servant
says to himself, `My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the
menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, [46] the
master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at
an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the unfaithful.
[47] And that servant who knew his master’s will, but did not make ready or act
according to his will, shall receive a severe beating. [48] But he who did not know,
and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating. Everyone to whom
much is given, of him much will be required; and of him to whom men commit
much they will demand the more.”
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Commentary:
40. God has chosen to hide from us the time of our death and the time when
the world will come to an end. Immediately after death everyone undergoes the
Particular Judgment: “just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that
comes judgment...” (Hebrews 9:27). The end of the world is when the General
Judgment will take place.
41-48. After our Lord’s exhortation to vigilance, St. Peter asks a question (verse
41), the answer to which is the key to understanding this parable. On the one
hand, Jesus emphasizes that we simply do not know exactly when God is
going to ask us to render an account of our life; on the other—answering Peter’s
question—our Lord explains that His teaching is addressed to every individual.
God will ask everyone to render an account of his doings: everyone has a
mission to fulfill in this life and he has to account for it before the judgment seat
of God and be judged on what he has produced, be it much or little.
“Since we know neither the day nor the hour, we should follow the advice of the
Lord and watch constantly so that, when the single course of our earthly life is
completed (cf. Hebrews 9:27), we may merit to enter with Him into the marriage
feast and be numbered among the blessed (cf. Matthew 25:31-46) and not, like
the wicked and slothful servants (cf. Matthew 25:26), be ordered to depart into
the eternal fire (cf. Matthew 25:41)” (Vatican II, “Lumen Gentium”, 48).
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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
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