The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate our action to respond to the righteousness we experience through trust in God.
The reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans, proclaims God’s Promise realized through Faith.
* [4:1–25] This is an expanded treatment of the significance of Abraham’s faith, which Paul discusses in Gal 3:6–18; see notes there. (Romans, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 105 praises God’s Faithfulness to Israel.
* [Psalm 105] A hymn to God who promised the land of Canaan to the holy people, cf. Ps 78; 106; 136. Israel is invited to praise and seek the presence of God (Ps 105:1–6), who is faithful to the promise of land to the ancestors (Ps 105:7–11). In every phase of the national story—the ancestors in the land of Canaan (Ps 105:12–15), Joseph in Egypt (Ps 105:16–22), Israel in Egypt (Ps 105:23–38), Israel in the desert on the way to Canaan (Ps 105:39–45)—God remained faithful, reiterating the promise of the land to successive servants. (Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke presents Jesus' sayings about the Holy Spirit.
* [12:10–12] The sayings about the holy Spirit are set in the context of fearlessness in the face of persecution (Lk 12:2–9; cf. Mt 12:31–32). The holy Spirit will be presented in Luke’s second volume, the Acts of the Apostles, as the power responsible for the guidance of the Christian mission and the source of courage in the face of persecution. (Luke, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)
Jay Carney (2019) comments that the “faith of Abraham” is used not to exclude unbelievers; rather it is used to include uncircumcised Gentiles into the Body of Christ. Faith opens the door to the outsider, expanding the church to be a community of all nations. Paul faces deep opposition to his universalizing project from the ethnic partisans of his day.
In crucial ways, our world grapples with similar challenges to those faced by Paul and his opponents. Ethnic reconciliation was perhaps the greatest challenge facing Paul’s communities; it is also one of the greatest challenges facing our churches today. Resurgent nationalism tempts Christians to keep out the foreign “other”; consumerist attitudes tempt us to worship only with people who look, sound, and think like us. But that is not the “Romans Road.” Rather, Paul calls us to expand our vision of who constitutes our brothers and sisters. Following the witness of Abraham, our father in faith, may our local churches become churches of many nations. (Carney, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “The Holy Spirit will inspire martyrs and teach believers,” by Cyril of Jerusalem, 430-543 A.D.
"You must also know that the Holy Spirit empowers the martyrs to bear witness... A person cannot testify as a martyr for Christ's sake except through the Holy Spirit. If 'no man can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit' (1 Corinthians 12:3), will any man give his life for Jesus' sake except through the Holy Spirit?" (excerpt from CATECHETICAL LECTURES 16.21) (Schwager, 2019)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Romans 4:13, 16-18 comments that through the covenant with Abraham, the Lord began the process of shaping a holy nation from which would come Jesus, the Messiah. And through Jesus and his disciples, that covenant expanded to include members of every nation.
God promised that Abraham’s descendants “would inherit the world” and that they would do it not through money or power or military conquest but “through the righteousness that comes from faith” (Romans 4:13). The faith of Abraham will spread as we continue to live as Jesus’ disciples and share his good news with the people around us. One person at a time, we can transform our world into a reflection of the kingdom of God.
“Lord, may your gospel spread to every generation!” (Meditation on Romans 4:13, 16-18, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the continuation of the midrash by Paul on the role of Abraham as the “Father of Nations.” Our choice is to accept or reject Jesus and the Spirit, the love between the Father and the Son which is the instrument of our forgiveness. Friar Jude notes that God sent us on our mission and He will turn our trials into witness to faith.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Buddhist practitioners Peggy Rowe Ward and Larry Ward who invite us to engage the breaches of the world with the “mindfulness of love”.
Consider your work environment. This may be a home office or a factory, the entertainment business, the medical world, teaching, law enforcement, to name a few. History is witness to the power of the mind of love in action in all of these places and more. Mother Teresa has said that the task is not to do big things but to “do small things with great love.” The qualities of generosity, inclusiveness, persistence, spirituality, ethical commitment and wisdom have stood the test of time.
We seek faith that brings us to peace with God and energies our work through the Spirit to bring love, mercy, and compassion to our environment.
References
Carney, J. (2023, October 21). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved October 21, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/102123.html
Luke, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 21, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/12?8
Meditation on Romans 4:13, 16-18. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 21, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/10/21/809444/
Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 21, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/105?6
Romans, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 21, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/4?13
Schwager, D. (2019, March 9). The Holy Spirit Will Teach You What to Say. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved October 21, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=oct21
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