The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today alert us to our responsibility to accept the guidance of the Spirit to choose peace with God through living as followers of Christ.
The reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans defines our position as Slaves of Righteousness.
* [6:12–19] Christians have been released from the grip of sin, but sin endeavors to reclaim its victims. The antidote is constant remembrance that divine grace has claimed them and identifies them as people who are alive only for God’s interests.
* [6:17] In contrast to humanity, which was handed over to self-indulgence (Rom 1:24–32), believers are entrusted (“handed over”) to God’s pattern of teaching, that is, the new life God aims to develop in Christians through the productivity of the holy Spirit. Throughout this passage Paul uses the slave-master model in order to emphasize the fact that one cannot give allegiance to both God and sin. (Romans, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 124 is thanksgiving for Israel’s Deliverance
* [Psalm 124] A thanksgiving which teaches that Israel’s very existence is owed to God who rescues them. In the first part Israel’s enemies are compared to the mythic sea dragon (Ps 124:2b–3a; cf. Jer 51:34) and Flood (Ps 124:3b–5; cf. Is 51:9–10). The Psalm heightens the malice of human enemies by linking them to the primordial enemies of God’s creation. Israel is a bird freed from the trapper’s snare (Ps 124:6–8)—freed originally from Pharaoh and now from the current danger. (Psalms, PSALM 124 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus contrasts the Faithful and the Unfaithful Slave
* [12:35–48] This collection of sayings relates to Luke’s understanding of the end time and the return of Jesus. Luke emphasizes for his readers the importance of being faithful to the instructions of Jesus in the period before the parousia.
* [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. (Luke, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)
Elvin Cardoso, S.J. comments that two important themes emerge from the readings.
Firstly, we recognize the need for God’s grace to help us overcome the temptations of sin. Secondly, we understand that God’s grace should not diminish our efforts in working towards our salvation. By combining our actions with God’s grace, we can experience transformative change and continuously choose what is right while seeking guidance from God. It is crucial to self-reflect on our thoughts, intentions, and actions to determine our direction. Let us be proactive in avoiding situations that make us vulnerable to sin and always strive to be committed to God and ourselves. (Cardoso, 2023)
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) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Romans 6:12-18 comments that the more we pattern ourselves after Jesus, the more we become like him. And the good news is that we don’t have to do this work alone! Jesus, the Master Craftsman, still lives in our “house” and is still at work renovating our hearts and minds. His grace flows freely, so we can be confident that he will build on, strengthen, and expand any effort we make to live our new life. This is the joint venture of a lifetime, but what a privilege it is to work beside the Master Craftsman and learn from him!
We tend to see the “disrepair” in our lives, especially when we stray from the Lord. What we don’t often see is the transformation that God has already done in us through Christ—as well as the work he is still doing. Today in prayer, present yourself to God as the new creation you are. Then praise him for giving you access to all the grace you need to live this new life in him.
“Lord Jesus, I present myself to you today, free to live as your new creation!” (Meditation on Romans 6:12-18, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler shares Paul’s teaching that Christ has freed us from the Law, not for a lawless life but to live and die in Christ. The Gospel of Luke identifies the need for us to give an accounting of our lives at the end. Friar Jude reminds us that because the gift of faith is not active to the same degree in all people, we do the best we can with what we have.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces author Laura Swan, a Benedictine nun, who has studied Christian women’s spirituality movements and writes about the alternative lifestyle of the medieval beguines.
The inner spiritual world of the beguines was rich in imagination. These women, and some of their monastic contemporaries, instigated a seismic shift in the province of the imagination, bringing their embodied experience of God and their spiritual journey into a broadened and deepened inner realm. Beguine mystics experienced a fiercely intimate encounter with the Divine—whom they called both “God” and “the One”.…
For these women, prayer was being in the presence of God, seeking to unite their minds and hearts with the One they loved (and whom they frequently referred to as their “Beloved”). A central goal in life for beguines was unity of will—that their personal will would become so united with the will of God that they essentially functioned as a unified whole. God’s heart would be the seeker’s heart; the seeker’s heart would find a home in God and God alone. This unity of will would be evidenced by joy, mercy and compassion, and love…. (Rohr, 2023)
We develop our peace with God as we are open to our transformation through the Holy Spirit to live as Jesus would, in joy, mercy and compassion, and love.
References
Cardoso, E. (2023, October 25). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved October 25, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/102523.html
Luke, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 25, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/12?
Meditation on Romans 6:12-18. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 25, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/10/25/813891/
Psalms, PSALM 124 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 25, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/124?1
Rohr, R. (2023, October 25). Uniting Minds and Hearts with God — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 25, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/uniting-minds-and-hearts-with-god/
Romans, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 25, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/6?
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 25, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=oct25
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