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The Letter to the Ephesians declares that by grace we have been saved by faith.
* [2:1–10] The recipients of Paul’s letter have experienced, in their redemption from transgressions and sins, the effect of Christ’s supremacy over the power of the devil (Eph 2:1–2; cf. Eph 6:11–12), who rules not from the netherworld but from the air between God in heaven and human beings on earth. Both Jew and Gentile have experienced, through Christ, God’s free gift of salvation that already marks them for a future heavenly destiny (Eph 2:3–7). The language dead, raised us up, and seated us…in the heavens closely parallels Jesus’ own passion and Easter experience. The terms in Eph 2:8–9 describe salvation in the way Paul elsewhere speaks of justification: by grace, through faith, the gift of God, not from works; cf. Gal 2:16–21; Rom 3:24–28. Christians are a newly created people in Christ, fashioned by God for a life of goodness (Eph 2:10).In the Gospel from Luke, the Parable of the Rich Man challenges us to consider our choices about material wealth.
* [12:13–34] Luke has joined together sayings contrasting those whose focus and trust in life is on material possessions, symbolized here by the rich fool of the parable (Lk 12:16–21), with those who recognize their complete dependence on God (Lk 12:21), those whose radical detachment from material possessions symbolizes their heavenly treasure (Lk 12:33–34).Edward Morse reflects that we must become content in moving in the direction that God is choosing for us, which requires us to trust him completely and to place our future in his hands.
There is much about this current world that differs from what we might choose. We do not control the ages to come. We are given many choices, but they are not always the choices we desire. But these scriptures point to a goodness that is deeper and richer than our desire. Our desires may only be for bigger barns, but the gift we are given is greater than this limited imagination. What does that look like? What will that gift mean to us? What will satisfaction feel like, when we have only longing in this world?Don Schwager quotes “Surrounded by wealth, blind to charity”, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"'What does the rich man do, surrounded by a great supply of many blessings beyond all numbering? In distress and anxiety, he speaks the words of poverty. He says, 'What should I do?' ... He does not look to the future. He does not raise his eyes to God. He does not count it worth his while to gain for the mind those treasures that are above in heaven. He does not cherish love for the poor or desire the esteem it gains. He does not sympathize with suffering. It gives him no pain nor awakens his pity. Still more irrational, he settles for himself the length of his life, as if he would also reap this from the ground. He says, 'I will say to myself, "Self, you have goods laid up for many years. Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself." 'O rich man,' one may say, "You have storehouses for your fruits, but where will you receive your many years? By the decree of God, your life is shortened." 'God,' it tells us, 'said to him, "You fool, this night they will require of you your soul. Whose will these things be that you have prepared?" (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 89)The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 12:13-21 for the Memorial of Saint John Paul II, Pope, asks what are the things that “matter to God” (Luke 12:21)?
First, that we would know his love for us personally. He created us out of love, and he loves us always. Second, that we matter to him—so much so that we can trust him always to take care of us. Third, that Jesus died and rose so that we could experience God’s transforming grace in our lives. And finally, that confident in his love for us, we would dedicate ourselves to loving and serving the people around us, especially those in need.A Post by Franciscan Media on the Saint of the Day for October 22 outlines Saint John Paul II’s story.
“Open wide the doors to Christ,” urged John Paul II during the homily at the Mass where he was installed as pope in 1978.The CCCB article on Pope John Paul II in Canada describes the highlights of his visits.
(In 1984) Speaking in English and in French, the Holy Father made more than 30 major addresses as well as many other statements, some of which were directed to Indigenous Peoples. He spoke of themes which he has strongly supported throughout his 26-year pontificate: solidarity, justice, peace, the place of youth, the respect of Indigenous cultures, Jesus Christ as a beacon of hope, and many more.Since 1984, Pope John Paul II returned to Canada twice. In September 1987, he visited Fort Simpson in the Northwest Territories and in 2002 he met with young people from around the world to celebrate World Youth Day 2002, in Toronto.Friar Jude Winkler compares the salvation we know by faith declared in the Letter to the Ephesians with the “justification by faith” in the letters authored by Paul. The parable of the rich man exhorts us to store treasures in heaven. Friar Jude comments that our real concern should be with heavenly grace where we are truly citizens and not become earthly.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, teaches the “cross,” rightly understood, always reveals various kinds of resurrection.
The mystery of the cross has the power to teach us that our suffering is not our own and my life is not about “me”; instead, we are actually living inside of a larger force field of life and death. One moves from “me” to “us” inside of this field of deep inner experience. This is the gateway to compassion, and thus redemption. When I can see and accept my suffering as a common participation with Jesus and all humanity, I am somehow “saved” and I become “whole in him” (see Colossians 2:9–10). I fully admit this is often hard to do when we are still in the midst of our suffering, and we just want to be delivered from it.Ilia Delio who teaches at Villanova University where as the Josephine C. Connelly Chair in Christian Theology, shares reflections on New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton.
The chapters unfolding in New Seeds flow from this foundational truth of self-discovery in God. For if our life's journey is knowing the truth of ourselves in God, then all wars would cease, violence would be banished, the world would be a sacred sphere, broken bones would be healed and hearts mended. If we could discover this great mystery of God in us, we would be truly free, and out of this freedom the seeds of our lives would sprout into a new world of justice and peace.As we discover the great mystery of God in us, we become truly free. Out of this freedom, the seeds of our lives point to a new world of justice and peace.
References
(n.d.). Ephesians chapter 2 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved October 22, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/2
(n.d.). Luke chapter 12 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved October 22, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/12
(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved October 22, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 22, 2018, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
(n.d.). Saint John Paul II, Pope (Optional Memorial) - Mass Readings and .... Retrieved October 22, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/
(n.d.). Saint John Paul II – Franciscan Media. Retrieved October 22, 2018, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-john-paul-ii/
(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archive - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 22, 2018, from https://cac.org/richard-rohr/daily-meditations/daily-meditations-archive/
(2017, January 23). Discovering the true self in God with Merton's guidance | National .... Retrieved October 22, 2018, from https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/discovering-true-self-god-mertons-guidance
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