The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with our sense of separation that comes from encountering situations that deplete our sense of fullness in life.
Choices in Life
The Letter of Paul to the Romans shares our faith in the gift of Eternal Life. Psalm 1 declares the Two Ways we have to choose in life. The Gospel of Luke expresses how Jesus becomes the Cause of Division1 Sr. Candice Tucci, OSF comments that to follow Jesus, to do the right thing, to live in right relationships, to basically do good and avoid evil is the mission of Jesus. Jesus challenged the Law and introduced a new one, to Love God, your neighbor as yourself. If we follow this new law of Love, and Life, it seems divisions happen.
So, Jesus, there you are creating the healing serum, giving the vaccinations, receiving the vaccinations, voting in Congress for life-giving choices, challenging bad laws, at the bedside of those dying of diseases, speaking out against injustices, building the city’s infrastructure, and mailing in a ballot! There you are promoting life, life everlasting and others just don’t get it!2
Don Schwager quotes “The fire of the Gospel and being baptized in the Holy Spirit, “ by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"We affirm that the fire that Christ sent out is for humanity's salvation and profit. May God grant that all our hearts be full of this. The fire is the saving message of the Gospel and the power of its commandments. We were cold and dead because of sin and in ignorance of him who by nature is truly God. The gospel ignites all of us on earth to a life of piety and makes us fervent in spirit, according to the expression of blessed Paul (Romans 12:11). Besides this, we are also made partakers of the Holy Spirit, who is like fire within us. We have been baptized with fire and the Holy Spirit. We have learned the way from what Christ says to us. Listen to his words: 'Truly I say to you, that except a man be born of water and spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God' (John 3:5). It is the divinely inspired Scripture's custom to give the name of fire sometimes to the divine and sacred words and to the efficacy and power which is by the Holy Spirit by which we are made fervent in spirit." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 94)3
The Word Among Us Meditation on Romans 6:19-23 comments that Paul is trying to help the Romans understand the difference between being bound by our sinful tendencies and being children of God wholly belonging to him. He wants them, and us, to understand that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
In the end, it’s a beautiful paradox: we find our greatest freedom when we surrender ourselves to God. The more we submit to his reign, the more free we become. May we never go back to living as a “slave” to sin! “Thank you, Lord, for setting me free! I want to belong completely to you and lovingly obey you.”4
Friar Jude Winkler shares insight about the readings today. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments on the systemic evils in our culture. We experience division among those we love as we struggle to choose the path of life.
References
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