The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to live more fully by accepting the help of the Spirit to reflect the love of God in our daily living.
The reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans declares the Power of the Gospel contrasted with the guilt of humankind.
* [1:18–32] In this passage Paul uses themes and rhetoric common in Jewish-Hellenistic mission proclamation (cf. Wis 13:1–14:31) to indict especially the non-Jewish world. The close association of idolatry and immorality is basic, but the generalization needs in all fairness to be balanced against the fact that non-Jewish Christian society on many levels displayed moral attitudes and performance whose quality would challenge much of contemporary Christian culture. Romans themselves expressed abhorrence over devotion accorded to animals in Egypt. Paul’s main point is that the wrath of God does not await the end of the world but goes into action at each present moment in humanity’s history when misdirected piety serves as a facade for self-interest.
* [1:18] The wrath of God: God’s reaction to human sinfulness, an Old Testament phrase that expresses the irreconcilable opposition between God and evil (see Is 9:11, 16, 18, 20; 10:4; 30:27). It is not contrary to God’s universal love for his creatures, but condemns Israel’s turning aside from the covenant obligations. Hosea depicts Yahweh as suffering intensely at the thought of having to punish Israel (Hos 11:8–9). God’s wrath was to be poured forth especially on the “Day of Yahweh” and thus took on an eschatological connotation (see Zep 1:15).
* [1:24] In order to expose the depth of humanity’s rebellion against the Creator, God handed them over to impurity through the lusts of their hearts. Instead of curbing people’s evil interests, God abandoned them to self-indulgence, thereby removing the facade of apparent conformity to the divine will. Subsequently Paul will show that the Mosaic law produces the same effect; cf. Rom 5:20; 7:13–24. The divine judgment expressed here is related to the theme of hardness of heart described in Rom 9:17–18. (Romans, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 19 praises God’s Glory in Creation and the Law.
* [Psalm 19] The heavenly elements of the world, now beautifully arranged, bespeak the power and wisdom of their creator (Ps 19:2–7). The creator’s wisdom is available to human beings in the law (Ps 19:8–11), toward which the psalmist prays to be open (Ps 19:12–14). The themes of light and speech unify the poem. (Psalms, PSALM 19 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus denounces Pharisees and Lawyers.
* [11:37–54] This denunciation of the Pharisees (Lk 11:39–44) and the scholars of the law (Lk 11:45–52) is set by Luke in the context of Jesus’ dining at the home of a Pharisee. Controversies with or reprimands of Pharisees are regularly set by Luke within the context of Jesus’ eating with Pharisees (see Lk 5:29–39; 7:36–50; 14:1–24). A different compilation of similar sayings is found in Mt 23 (see also notes there). (Luke, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB, n.d.)
Edward Morse comments on the great work The Lord, by Romano Guardini who describes this corrupt condition, distinguishing it from mere error: “The spirit that errs is not yet impure – for example when it judges facts falsely, uses words incorrectly, confuses images. It is impure when it is indifferent to truth; when it no longer desires to think cleanly or to measure by the standards of eternity; when it no longer knows that the dignity and honor of truth are its own dignity and honor; when it besmudges the sense of words – which is the sense of things and of existence itself – robbing them of their austerity and nobility.”
Lord, help us to avoid the path of fools by choosing to revere and worship you in all your glory. Let us remember what we have been saved from, including our vanity, our disordered desires, and our tendency to suppress realities that make us uncomfortable. And let us understand the goodness that accompanies life with you, here on this earth and beyond. Please be merciful and keep saving us until our earthly journey is over and we can behold your glory face to face. Thanks be to God. (Morse, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Acts of mercy are examples of almsgiving,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"What our Lord says, 'Give alms, and behold, all things are clean to you,' applies to all useful acts of mercy. It does not apply just to the one who gives food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothing to the naked, hospitality to the wayfarer or refuge to the fugitive. It also applies to one who visits the sick and the prisoner, redeems the captive, bears the burdens of the weak, leads the blind, comforts the sorrowful, heals the sick, shows the erring the right way, gives advice to the perplexed, and does whatever is needful for the needy. Not only does this person give alms, but the person who forgives the trespasser also gives alms as well. He is also a giver of alms who, by blows or other discipline, corrects and restrains those under his command. At the same time he forgives from the heart the sin by which he has been wronged or offended or prays that it be forgiven the offender. Such a person gives alms not only because he forgives and prays but also because he rebukes and administers corrective punishment, since in this he shows mercy... There are many kinds of alms. When we do them, we are helped in receiving forgiveness of our own sins." (excerpt from ENCHIRIDION 19.72) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 11:37-41 comments that “giving alms” involves not just our material goods but also our thoughts, intentions, and motives. When we give these to the Lord, we are giving over to him what is most precious to us. And in surrendering these movements of our minds and hearts, we are allowing him to shine a light on anything that needs to change. It’s like taking the lid off a cup and letting the Lord scrub it clean!
What can you give to Jesus today? Though you might experience some resistance within you, “give alms” by letting it go and letting the Lord do his work of purification. He wants to make you clean—inside and out!
“Lord, I surrender all to you. Cleanse me through and through.” (Meditation on Luke 11:37-41, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes the message from Paul addresses the Gentiles who worshipped creation rather than the Creator. The Romans are cited, by Paul, as people who have the ability to know God but choose not to and the Galatians are portrayed as the opposite. Friar Jude reminds us of the connection the Pharisees made from a meal to Worship , even as they ignored the practice of love for God and neighbour.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Emmanuel Katongole and Chris Rice who describe how leaders like Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) respond to breaches, which they refer to as “gaps,” and how each of us may respond as well.
Many warriors for justice become steeped in the skills of protest and resistance. Yet they never learn the equally critical skills of pursuing new life in the gap. One of the distinguishing marks of the gentleness that communion requires is this: leaders are ones who learn to absorb pain without passing it on to others or to themselves.
This is what is so remarkable about the spirit of leaders like Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, who are undoubtedly skilled at protest and resistance. While they carried a great burden about gaps of injustice, they radiated conviction and not condemnation, redemption and not final judgment, embrace and not rejection. The truly prophetic nature of their work in South Africa was pursuing justice with a quality of mercy that shaped a quest for communion with enemies and strangers. [2] (Rohr, 2019)
We are invited to contemplate the depth with which we apply our time, treasure, and talent to the mission of “giving alms” in situations that call for compassion, mercy, and love.
References
Luke, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 17, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/11?
Meditation on Luke 11:37-41. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 17, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/10/17/807260/
Morse, E. (2023, October 17). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved October 17, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/101723.html
Psalms, PSALM 19 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 17, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/19?2
Rohr, R. (2019, March 9). Responding to the Gaps. CAC Daily Meditations 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/responding-to-the-gaps/
Romans, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 17, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/1?16
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 17, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=oct17
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