The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate our journey and the opportunities we have to be agents of support and life to the people in our environment.
The Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans exhorts us to Freedom from Sin and to Life in God.
* [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 heightens the malice of human enemies by linking them to the primordial enemies of God’s creation.
* [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, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke advocates that Vigilant and Faithful Servants prepare for the End Times.
* [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.)
Maggie Knight is reminded of one of the meditations in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. She encountered it through Kevin O’Brien, SJ’s book The Ignatian Adventure, which includes George E. Ganss, SJ’s traditional translation of the Principle and Foundation from the Spiritual Exercises. It begins:
“What have I done for Christ? What am I doing for Christ? What ought I do for Christ? May all decisions and actions help me praise, reverence, and serve God.”
For me, returning to these questions helps keep my focus where it belongs. If I use them as a touchstone, it becomes much harder to serve any master other than the Lord. Of course, living this out is easier said than done. But this simple reminder has become both powerful and comforting in my own life.
Paul’s reminder in Romans 6 and the wisdom of the Spiritual Exercises both seem to call us to the same truth: real freedom comes from choosing God and living as His servants.(Knight, n.d.)
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.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments Paul speaks that justified through faith we cannot reject a moral life for licentiousness. We are aiming to be a slave to the Love of God that requires a moral good life. In Luke, we are reminded that we don’t know the hour when the Master returns. Therefore we need to build up the kingdom with our gifts and talents. Our punishment will be based on our response. “Much is required of those given much” We avoid need to avoid the trap of living just for ourselves.
Fr. Mike Schmitz mirrors the story of 1 Maccabees and Israel’s expectations of continued success onto our own lives, emphasizing that God’s marvelous plan exceeds our expectations and what we think should happen next in our lives. He invites us to worship and give to the Lord with freedom and generosity in response to God’s sacrificial love for us. Today’s readings are 1 Maccabees 14, Sirach 34-35, and Proverbs 23:22-25.
Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces E. Trey Clark, a Professor of Preaching and Spiritual Formation, who considers the rich history of Black contemplative preaching.
Black contemplative preaching is shaped by the holistic spirituality, communal orientation, and vibrant orality that is part of the rich Africana heritage—even when embodied outside of predominantly Black contexts. Moreover, Black contemplative preaching unites the head and the heart, the personal and the communal, and spiritual formation and social transformation as it bears witness to the liberating and life-giving gospel of Jesus Christ. While recognizing that contemplation is ultimately a gift, Black contemplative preachers seek to guide people to experience loving communion with the divine, while also pursuing the flourishing of Black people and all of God’s creation.…
It is essential to note that Black contemplative preaching is not a recent development. Its deep roots can be traced to the lineage of biblical prophets such as Moses, Isaiah, Mary, and Jesus himself. Moreover, it stems from a tradition of African mystics, including St. Anthony, Moses the Black, and St. Mary of Egypt. It is also part of a larger history of mystic preachers in the Christian tradition that includes Augustine of Hippo, Hildegard of Bingen, St. Francis of Assisi, Meister Eckhart, Dona Beatriz, Kimpa Vita, and others. [1] (Rohr, n.d.)
We contemplate the “Cloud of Witnesses” in our tradition that model for us the fullness of life in being the faithful servant of Jesus Way.
References
Knight, M. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved October 22, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-october-22-2025
Luke, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 22, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/12?39
Psalms, PSALM 124. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 22, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/124?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC.org. Retrieved October 22, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/black-traditions-of-contemplation/
Romans, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 22, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/6?12
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Be Ready to Answer - the Lord Draws Near. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 22, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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