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| “The Ecstasy of St Therese” by Francesco Fontebasso, c.1750s |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Ephesians 1:15-23
Commentary on Eph 1:15-23
After his introductory address and blessing, St. Paul offers a prayer that the community may receive full spiritual understanding of the mystery decreed in Christ. His opening statement: “… of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of your love for all the holy ones,” provides a strong link between “faith” and “love.” Faith in Christ and love of each other form a cornerstone of the community, connected perpetually. The prayer for “wisdom and revelation” goes beyond a simple understanding of God’s plan, but knowledge of God, himself.
The prayer for enlightenment promotes the idea that only through an understanding of God’s great sacrifice can the hope offered by the savior be realized. The Apostle emphasizes the power and majesty of Jesus, placing his sacrifice in perspective: “…he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things.” How much love was shown to God’s creation by offering up one whose state is so exalted? St. Paul’s concluding verse also introduces his concept of the Church as the living body of Christ, a theme that was developed in earlier letters to other congregations (cf. Romans 12: 4f; 1 Corinthians 12:12ff).
CCC: Eph 1:16-23 2632; Eph 1:18 158; Eph 1:19-22 272, 648; Eph 1:20-22 668; Eph 1:22-23 830; Eph 1:22 669, 753, 2045
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 8:2-3ab, 4-5, 6-7
R. (7) You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
Commentary on Ps 8:2-3ab, 4-5, 6-7
Psalm 8 is another of the songs of thanksgiving. In this selection we hear the title “son of man” used. It is, in this instance, referring to the people, not to Jesus. The song reflects on the creation account from Genesis, and how God gave man dominion over the life he had created.
CCC: Ps 8:2 300, 2566; Ps 8:3 559; Ps 8:6 2566, 2809
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Gospel: Luke 12:8-12
Commentary on Lk 12:8-12
Jesus, still addressing the disciples about their mission, brings in the person of the Holy Spirit. “The sayings about the Holy Spirit are set in the context of fearlessness in the face of persecution (Luke 12:2-9; cf Matthew 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.”[4]
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Reflection:
St. Luke’s Gospel provides us with a look into the mind of Christ as he instructs his disciples about their upcoming mission. He tells them that, if anyone denies him [Jesus], the “son of man,” they may be forgiven, but if anyone blasphemes against God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, they will be condemned.
This small set of sayings about the Holy Spirit provides us with an understanding of the power the Lord left to us, his modern-day disciples. He promised that this Divine Advocate would be provided so that we could have ongoing guidance from God (recall his words “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always,” John 14:16).
He reminds us, his faithful followers, that what he asks of us will not be easy. We, like so many who have gone before us, will be resisted, persecuted, and rejected by those who would rather embrace darkness. On our own we will be ineffective in overcoming this resistance. The Lord did not leave physical proof that the Kingdom of God is coming, and so many who do not want to believe in the Son of God demand that physical proof (see this link to Bishop Barron for more). Like the unbelieving in this same Gospel, they ask for a sign.
He tells his disciples not to worry about these times of confrontation. He tells them “…the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say” (v.12). The faith that St. Paul speaks about in the reading from Ephesians taps into the power of that Holy Advocate, and our words can have power beyond all reckoning. That is the hard part of course, being so at peace with the knowledge of God’s love that we can reach in and open that indwelling source of grace, giving it the power to silence the evil one and proclaim God’s glory. Today we pray for that peace, that state of grace, that will allow the Holy Spirit to transform us into instruments of God’s purpose.
Pax
[1] The picture is “The Ecstasy of St Therese” by Francesco Fontebasso, c.1750s
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[4] See NAB footnotes on Luke 12:8ff
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