The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to accept a struggle with dualism as part of our transformation that is witness to the Love of God for all people.
The Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans contrasts Humanity’s Sin through Adam with Grace and Life through Christ.
* [5:12–21] Paul reflects on the sin of Adam (Gn 3:1–13) in the light of the redemptive mystery of Christ. Sin, as used in the singular by Paul, refers to the dreadful power that has gripped humanity, which is now in revolt against the Creator and engaged in the exaltation of its own desires and interests. But no one has a right to say, “Adam made me do it,” for all are culpable (Rom 5:12): Gentiles under the demands of the law written in their hearts (Rom 2:14–15), and Jews under the Mosaic covenant. Through the Old Testament law, the sinfulness of humanity that was operative from the beginning (Rom 5:13) found further stimulation, with the result that sins were generated in even greater abundance. According to Rom 5:15–21, God’s act in Christ is in total contrast to the disastrous effects of the virus of sin that invaded humanity through Adam’s crime.
* [5:12] Inasmuch as all sinned: others translate “because all sinned,” and understand v 13 as a parenthetical remark. Unlike Wis 2:24, Paul does not ascribe the entry of death to the devil.
* [5:20] The law entered in: sin had made its entrance (12); now the law comes in alongside sin. See notes on Rom 1:18–32; 5:12–21. Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more: Paul declares that grace outmatches the productivity of sin. (Romans, CHAPTER 5, n.d.)
Psalm 40 is a thanksgiving combined with a lament.
* [Psalm 40] A thanksgiving (Ps 40:2–13) has been combined with a lament (Ps 40:14–17) that appears also in Ps 70. The psalmist describes the rescue in spatial terms—being raised up from the swampy underworld to firm earth where one can praise God (Ps 40:2–4). All who trust God will experience like protection (Ps 40:5–6)! The Psalm stipulates the precise mode of thanksgiving: not animal sacrifice but open and enthusiastic proclamation of the salvation just experienced (Ps 40:7–11). A prayer for protection concludes (Ps 40:12–17). (Psalms, PSALM 40, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Vigilant and Faithful Servants are recognized.
* [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. (Luke, CHAPTER 12, n.d.)
Jay Carney comments that Romans 5 narrates the theological equivalent of a Hollywood blockbuster. In just seven verses, today’s first reading captures the crux of Paul’s gospel of salvation.
What struck me today is how the two Adams reflect two distinct ways of living out our humanity in the world. The First Adam offers a way familiar to any observer of the powerful men and women of our own day – insecure, self-seeking, avaricious, aiming to transcend all limits “to become like gods” (Genesis 3:5). Yet the First Adam’s ambition is also his undoing: the divine thread is severed, and he ends up painfully tilling and dying in the soil from which he was formed (adamah in Hebrew literally means the “earth-man” or “dust-man”). Jesus, the New Adam, offers a different way: righteous obedience to the Father’s will exemplified in self-sacrificial service for and with others. This is symbolized in Luke’s gospel by a master waiting on servants who have faithfully waited for him. (Carney, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “The true meaning of 'loins girded and lamps burning',” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"The girding of our loins (Luke 12:25) signifies the readiness of the mind to work hard in every thing praiseworthy. Those who apply themselves to bodily labors and are engaged in strenuous toil have their loins girded. The lamp apparently represents the wakefulness of the mind and intellectual cheerfulness. We say that the human mind is awake when it repels any tendency to slumber off into that carelessness that often is the means of bringing it into subjection to every kind of wickedness. When sunk in stupor, the heavenly light within the mind is liable to be endangered, or even already is in danger from a violent and impetuous blast of wind. Christ commands us to be awake. To this, his disciple also arouses us by saying, 'Be awake. Be watchful' (1 Peter 5:8). Further on, the very wise Paul also says, 'Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead: and Christ shall give you light' (Ephesians 5:14)." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 92) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 12:35-38 comments that life lived to the fullest is one in readiness to serve the Lord. He is always at work, and he is always giving us the opportunity to join him in that work.
Whatever Jesus calls you to, you can be sure of one thing: the more time you spend serving him, the less you will fear him. Because you’ll be working alongside him, you’ll see how loving and compassionate and patient he truly is! Then, when you finally do meet him, you’ll also be surprised by how generous he is. The One you have been serving for so long will serve you (Luke 12:37). He’ll have you rest your tired bones and treat you to the wonders of his heavenly banquet!
“Jesus, my Master, help me to be ready and willing to serve you every chance I get!” (Meditation on Luke 12:35-38, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that Adam's sin brought death into the world and Jesus’ death brought life into the world. Life is better than death and the power of grace is more than the power of our guilt. We may have trouble with self forgiveness and trust in forgiveness from God. If we are ready for Christ to come, the Gospel indicates the Master will reward us. In a Jewish teaching manner we ponder that He will serve us and later we will serve Him. Friar Jude reminds us of the importance of being aware of the maxim “nothing left unsaid; nothing left undone.”
Fr. Mike Schmitz focuses on our reading of 1 Maccabees today. Fr. Mike highlights the establishment of the new independent sovereign nation of Israel in the land of Judah. We learn how Simon takes command and enforces the law all around the land. Fr. Mike reminds us that even today, Christians are governed by Jesus himself and ultimately to belong to him. Today's readings are 1 Maccabees 13, Sirach 32-33, and Proverbs 23:17-21.
Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces spiritual writer Katie Gordon who shares how her life has been shaped by living alongside Benedictine nuns.
Where, once upon a time, nuns in habits observed the Grand Silence, there is now laughter ringing through the rafters from the kids in the daycare program on the first two floors. On the grand wooden staircase once meticulously cleaned with toothbrushes by the sisters, the kids now run up and down, speaking the several languages of the migrant communities represented in the program. Just upstairs, there are offices for several ministries that evolved out of the sisters’ faithful presence in the city, including a soup kitchen and food pantry, an online monastery of contemporary seekers, and an association of monasteries sharing resources across the globe. These might hardly be recognizable to the original sisters who settled here in the 1850s to educate German immigrants, but they are nonetheless extensions of the same call to community and ministry, yet in a new era of need. (Rohr, n.d.)
We seek Wisdom from the Spirit as we work with the tensions in human relations to build communities of care and compassion.
References
Carney, J. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved October 21, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-october-21-2025
Luke, CHAPTER 12. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 21, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/12?35
Meditation on Luke 12:35-38. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved October 21, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/10/21/1412070/
Psalms, PSALM 40. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 21, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/40?7
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 21, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/ancient-wisdom-ever-new/
Romans, CHAPTER 5. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 21, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/5?12
Schwager, D. (n.d.). When the Master Knocks - Open at Once. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 21, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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