Service as appropriate to gifts and understanding

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to relish the gifts we receive that engender hope and confidence through our trust in God and our surrender to His will.

On the line

The Letter to the Ephesians celebrates the commission of Paul to preach God’s Plan.

* [3:1–13] Paul reflects on his mission to the Gentiles. He alludes to his call and appointment to the apostolic office (Eph 3:2–3) and how his insight through revelation, as well as that of the other apostles and charismatic prophets in the church (Eph 3:4–5), has deepened understanding of God’s plan of salvation in Christ. Paul is the special herald (Eph 3:7) of a new promise to the Gentiles (Eph 3:6): that the divine plan includes them in the spiritual benefits promised to Israel. Not only is this unique apostolic role his; Paul also has been given the task of explaining to all the divine plan of salvation (Eph 3:8–9), once hidden. Through the church, God’s plan to save through Christ is becoming manifest to angelic beings (Eph 3:10; cf. Eph 1:21), in accord with God’s purpose (Eph 3:11). The fulfillment of the plan in Christ gives the whole church more confidence through faith in God (Eph 3:12). The readers of this letter are also thereby encouraged to greater confidence despite Paul’s imprisonment (Eph 3:13).

In the Gospel from Luke, Jesus extends the requirement to be vigilant and faithful servants to the special case of one who has intimate knowledge of the ways of the Master.

* [12:45] My master is delayed in coming: this statement indicates that early Christian expectations for the imminent return of Jesus had undergone some modification. Luke cautions his readers against counting on such a delay and acting irresponsibly. Cf. the similar warning in Mt 24:48.

Tamora Whitney connects to the cliche that “with great power comes great responsibility”.

“Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” The ones with more authority, the ones who have been given trust have more responsibility to perform better. With great power comes great responsibility.  The disciples and their successors were given trust and power and they need to live up to that trust. They especially need to be always at the ready and encourage others as well.
But in a bigger sense we are all disciples. We all know the rules. We all need to be ready and stay ready, because we do not know the day or the hour.

Don Schwager quotes “God's great promise for faithful and wise servants”, by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).

"'Blessed is the servant whom the Lord will find so doing when he comes. A great promise is extended to the Lord's faithful and wise stewards. It is like the promise he made to those to whom he said, 'Take authority over five cities' or 'take authority over ten cities' (Luke 19:17-19). For to be made the head 'over all his possessions' is nothing other than to be made an 'heir of God and coheir with Christ' (Romans 8:17) and to reign with Christ. The Father has given him everything he himself possesses, as Christ said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me' (Matthew 28:18). The Son of the good Father who is given authority over all his Father's possessions also shares this honor and glory with his faithful and wise stewards, so they also might be with Christ above every creature and authority. This is what he meant when he said, 'Truly I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.'"  (excerpt from the COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 62)

The Word Among Us Meditation on (Psalm) Isaiah 12:2-6 notes that Isaiah declares that he is confident because his “strength” and “courage is the Lord” (12:2). In the first reading, Paul says we have confidence through our faith in Jesus (Ephesians 3:12). Of course, it’s easy to say that our confidence comes from God. But how can we make this spiritual truth affect the way we live each day?

It’s easy to feel confident when things are going well. But when we face challenges that we don’t know how to handle, our confidence can quickly shrivel up. Again, you can make the conscious decision to surrender the situation to God. Even if you don’t “feel” any different, even if you keep taking back your surrender, keep it up. God sees your faith, and he will find a way to show you that he is still with you to help you and to guide you.

A post by Franciscan Media outlines the life of St. Anthony Mary Claret, the “spiritual father of Cuba” who was a missionary, religious founder, social reformer, queen’s chaplain, writer and publisher, archbishop, and refugee in the 19th century.

Anthony was appointed to head the much-neglected archdiocese of Santiago in Cuba. He began its reform by almost ceaseless preaching and hearing of confessions, and suffered bitter opposition mainly for opposing concubinage and giving instruction to black slaves. A hired assassin—whose release from prison Anthony had obtained—slashed open his face and wrist. Anthony succeeded in getting the would-be assassin’s death sentence commuted to a prison term. His solution for the misery of Cubans was family-owned farms producing a variety of foods for the family’s own needs and for the market. This invited the enmity of the vested interests who wanted everyone to work on a single cash crop—sugar. Besides all his religious writings are two books he wrote in Cuba: Reflections on Agriculture and Country Delights.

Friar Jude Winkler comments on how the author of the Letter to the Ephesians communicates the vision of Paul that the mystery of God revealed is that the Gentiles will be in the One Body of Christ. We share the privilege felt by Paul as we let our actions reveal the Word working in our lives. Friar Jude reflects on the response of Christians then and now as we live without certainty of the timing of the end of life.

James Finley reflects on his experience of coming to learn to trust in the paradoxical way God sustains us in our suffering. We are learning to sink the taproot of our heart in God, who protects us from nothing even as God so inexplicably sustains us in all things.

As this transformative process continues, we find within and beyond ourselves resources of courage, patience, and tenderness to touch the hurting places with love, so they might dissolve in love until only love is left. This for me is a very deep, contemplative way to understand that Christ’s presence in the world is being bodied forth in and as the gift and miracle of our very presence in the world.

The mystery of the plan of salvation is calling us to trust that overcomes fear and reveals resources of vigilance, patience, and mercy transforms our life so as to be lights to the nations.

References

(n.d.). Ephesians chapter 3 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved October 24, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/3
(n.d.). Luke chapter 12 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved October 24, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/12
(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved October 24, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 24, 2018, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
(n.d.). Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest (Optional Memorial) - Mass Readings .... Retrieved October 24, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations
(n.d.). Saint Anthony Mary Claret – Franciscan Media. Retrieved October 24, 2018, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-anthony-claret/
(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archives - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 24, 2018, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/