(Optional Memorial for Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop)
 |
| “Handing-over the Keys” by Raffaello Sanzio,1515 |
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Ephesians 3:2b-12
Brothers and sisters:
You have heard of the stewardship
of God’s grace
that was given to me for your
benefit,
namely, that the mystery was made
known to me by revelation,
as I have written briefly earlier.
When you read this
you can understand my insight into
the mystery of Christ,
which was not made known to human
beings in other generations
as it has now been revealed
to his holy Apostles and prophets
by the Spirit,
that the Gentiles are coheirs,
members of the same Body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ
Jesus through the Gospel.
Of this I became a minister by the
gift of God’s grace
that was granted me in accord with
the exercise of his power.
To me, the very least of all the
holy ones, this grace was given,
to preach to the Gentiles the
inscrutable riches of Christ,
and to bring to light for all what
is the plan of the mystery
hidden from ages past in God who
created all things,
so that the manifold wisdom of God
might now be made known through the
Church
to the principalities and
authorities in the heavens.
This was according to the eternal
purpose
that he accomplished in Christ
Jesus our Lord,
in whom we have boldness of speech
and confidence of access through
faith in him.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Eph 3:2b-12
St. Paul’s dialogue on the unity of
all the faithful in Christ is continued in this passage. He begins this section
with a brief reference to his own specific mission, to bring the Gospel of
Christ to the Gentile community (see Galatians 1:6ff; Acts 15:2ff
based upon the decisions made at the Council of Jerusalem). The apostle
pronounces the Gentiles as coheirs to the salvation offered by God in Jesus,
and uses the analogy of the “body” to signify the degree to which all
are united. He concludes this passage with a summary of the grace and richness
offered in proclaiming Christ to the world using himself as example.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial
Psalm:
Isaiah 12:2-3, 4,
5-6
R. (3) You will draw water
joyfully from the springs of salvation.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the
LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim
his name;
among the nations make known his
deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Sing praise to the LORD for his
glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all
the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of
Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6
This hymn of praise is a profession
of faith: “My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my
savior.” It also does something interesting in that it challenges those who
profess their faith in the Lord to proclaim it in the world: “among the
nations make known his deeds, proclaim how exalted is his name.”
This canticle emphasizes the peace
and confidence found in his servant, enjoying the salvation of God. He sings
his praise to God and exhorts all of Israel to praise him as they see his
constant presence among them in the blessings they receive.
CCC: Is 12:3 2561
----------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Luke 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.”
----------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Lk 12:39-48
Following the Lord’s initial
exhortation to his audience about the need to remain faithful, even if it
seemed the hour was getting late, St. Peter asks the Lord if that message is
for everyone or just for the disciples. The Lord responds with a parable
similar to that which was used in the previous verses (Luke 12:35-38), and then
punctuates it with a special injunction for the disciples. He uses the analogy
of a servant entrusted with the master’s property, concluding with: “Much
will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be
demanded of the person entrusted with more.” The final verse in this
passage answers St. Peter’s question clearly.
CCC: Lk 12:35-40 2849
----------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
One of
the big objections to Catholicism in the world at large is its apparent overly
strict and idealistic stand against moral issues like birth control, premarital
sex, cohabitation of couples, same-sex marriage, and overall critical view of
the hedonistic lifestyle so prevalent in much of the developed world ( putting
aside for the moment the on-going clergy scandals taking place around the world).
This
has been emphasized in the media firestorm over the recently concluded Synod on
Marriage and the Family in which different views on how to express the Church’s
dogma on some of these hot-button issues were expressed by the attendees. (As a
side note we find it ironic that the press somehow feels that all bishops
participating should agree on exactly how the Church should change or not
change.) For those of us who understand the role of the synod, we know that
these are deliberations with recommendations and have no final authority within
the magisterium.
Many
of these critics say the leadership is unrealistic and the Church’s position on
these issues is so provincial that her stance makes her irrelevant to large
numbers of peoples and cultures. At the heart of this apparent unbending moral
doctrine is that last line in St. Luke’s Gospel “Much will be required of the
person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person
entrusted with more.”
Through
St. Peter, Christ gave the Church the “keys to the Kingdom of God.” He told St.
Peter that whatever he loosed on earth (whatever standards he approved on
earth) would be loosed in heaven. In essence, what was entrusted to the Church
and its leaders was nothing less that the teaching and moral authority of the
Lord himself (the magisterium). In keeping and holding that trust, the leaders
of the Church must take the highest moral standard, no matter how unpopular,
and cling to it. Think of the consequences if they should fail. There is a
reason that when a new pontiff is elected he goes immediately to “the room of
tears,” so much rests on Peter.
For
each of us, we are called, not to be perfect, although that is the standard set
for us by Jesus and the one the Chair of Peter continues to strive for, but
rather to work constantly to improve our understanding of God’s call to
holiness. We must, because we are of the world, react to situations with which
we are faced. Sometimes our human nature gets the better of us and we fail to
love consciously, and withhold our compassion. Our goal is at some point to
instinctively react out of the love and compassion given to us in the Gospel.
Until that day, we listen to the teaching words of our leaders, the successors
of St. Peter, and do our best to follow their high standards in spite of the
ridicule of those who would have us take an easier path.
Today
we pray that we are able to accept our share in of the responsibility Christ
placed upon our shoulders at the time of our Baptism and Confirmation. Much has
been given to us as well, and we are assured that much will be expected in
return. We give thanks that the yoke is light with the support given in the
Holy Spirit, and we shoulder it gladly in Christ’s name.
Pax
[1]
The picture used today is “Handing-over the Keys” by Raffaello Sanzio,1515.
[3]
The readings are taken from the New American Bible,
with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the
International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is
not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
No comments:
Post a Comment