Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

(Optional Memorial for Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest) United States

Proper for the Memorial of St. Paul of the Cross

“Crucifixion” 
by  Pierre-Paul Prud'hon, 1822

Readings for Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]

 

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

 

Commentary:

 

Reading 1: Romans 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21

 

Commentary on Rom 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21

 

St. Paul uses this simile of sin and righteousness to describe the effects of Jesus on the world.  He recalls that sin entered the world through Adam’s original sin (“as through one person sin entered the world”).  Through a number of iterative comparisons (the transgressions of the one offset by the sacrifice of God; offset by the gift of justification; offset by one righteous act) he establishes that, through Christ’s entry into the world, sin and death are defeated for those upon whom his grace falls.

 

CCC: Rom 5:12-21 388; Rom 5:12 400, 402, 602, 612, 1008; Rom 5:18-19 605; Rom 5:18 402; Rom 5:19-21 1009; Rom 5:19-20 411; Rom 5:19 397, 402, 532, 615, 623; Rom 5:20-21 1848; Rom 5:20 312, 385, 412, 420

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 17

 

R. (8a and 9a) Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

 

Commentary on Ps 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 17

 

While Psalm 40 is a song of thanksgiving, it is also combined with a lament. The initial waiting is satisfied by favor shown by God to one who is faithful in service to Him. Praise and thanksgiving are given to God whose justice is applied to all. In these strophes the thanksgiving of those who hear the voice of God and obey his words is sung. This obedience is loved by God above ritual sacrifices. The Lord especially loves those who follow His law. Once heard, the good news is proclaimed to all the people.

 

Supporting the new covenant, the psalm selection tells us that the animal sacrifices and sin offerings of the Hebrews are not what the Lord wants – he would rather have a humble and contrite heart.

 

CCC: Ps 40:7-9 LXX 462; Ps 40:7 2824

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Gospel: Luke 12:35-38

 

Commentary on Lk 12:35-38

 

This selection from St. Luke’s Gospel emphasizes the need for fidelity and faithfulness to Christ’s teachings because the hour and the day of the Lord’s return are not known. The image used to describe this preparedness, “Gird your loins and light your lamps” instructs the faithful to be prepared for a journey from darkness into light. Similar ideas are presented in Matthew 25 1-13, in the parable of the Ten Virgins (see commentary on Matthew 25:1ff). To gird one’s loins refers to the practice of tucking the long, oriental style robes into a belt in order to move more rapidly (see Exodus 12:11; 1 Peter 1:13). The evangelist makes it clear that the time of the Parousia is unknown and the need for continual preparedness is expressed in the statement “And should he come in the second or third watch…” The Hebrews divided the evening hours into three watches (the Romans four). The third watch would have lasted until the night ended.

 

CCC: Lk 12:35-40 2849

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Reflection:

 

Justification is the most excellent work of God's love made manifest in Christ Jesus and granted by the Holy Spirit. It is the opinion of St. Augustine that "the justification of the wicked is a greater work than the creation of heaven and earth," because "heaven and earth will pass away but the salvation and justification of the elect . . . will not pass away."[4] He holds also that the justification of sinners surpasses the creation of the angels in justice, in that it bears witness to a greater mercy. – Catechism of Catholic Church # 1994

 

St. Paul speaks of the “the gift of justification” and as we hear from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, that gift is beyond measure.  So what, we might ask is this “Justification” and what does it do for us; to us?

 

Justification means that we (who are Justified in Christ) are recreated – just as if we had never sinned.  In Christ’s sacrifice, all the sins of mankind found atonement.  A terrible scar received at the birth of mankind in Adam was erased.  A deformity in our character was repaired and we were made whole – able once more to attain the gates of the heavenly kingdom.

 

It is this state of grace, complete and unstained that we seek in our communion with the Lord.  All of the little (or not so little) blemishes, stains, and bruises our soul receives when we fail to love are laid at the foot of the Cross in the confessional as we pledge our faith and are allowed to go into the world once more assured that the sacrifice once made can keep us whole.

 

Today we give thanks to the great sacrifice of Jesus who in accepting the Cross for our salvation, recreated us in the image of himself and opened the gates of paradise for all eternity.

 

Pax

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[1] S.S. Commemoratio

[2] The picture is “Crucifixion” by  Pierre-Paul Prud'hon, 1822

[4] St. Augustine, In Jo. ev. 72,3:PL 35,1823.