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| “Last Judgment” by Raphael Coxce, c. 1600 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: 1 Thessalonians 3:7-13
Commentary on 1 Thes 3:7-13
St. Paul speaks to the Thessalonians in a conversational tone. He first thanks God for their faithfulness in the face of difficulties. He then offers a prayer, asking God to increase their love for each other and others using one of the Lord’s sayings (Love one another as I have loved you). It is clear from his prayerful lament that he greatly desires to continue his instruction with them, instruction that was interrupted when he was forced to leave hurriedly (Acts 17:5-10). By way of example, he reminds them that even he must depend upon God to allow him to return, and that it is only through God’s grace that his teaching and preaching will be efficacious.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 90:3-5a, 12-13, 14 and 17
R. (14) Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Commentary on Ps 90:3-5a, 12-13, 14 and 17
Psalm 90 is an individual song of thanksgiving. In this section, the psalmist reflects on God’s immensity and asks for God’s continued presence in support of all the singer's activities.
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Gospel: Matthew 24:42-51
Commentary on Mt 24:42-51
This discourse from St. Matthew’s Gospel follows his reflections about the end times, and the need for vigilance. The Lord speaks to those who follow him, especially the leaders of the community of faithful he leaves behind, telling them they will not know the time when they will be called to the Kingdom of Heaven. In the second section he tells his followers that those who are found to be vigilant will be rewarded at the end of all things, while those who have fallen away will be punished.
CCC: Mt 24:44 673
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Reflection:
Following the teachings of Jesus Christ and his Church is the most difficult thing we do. Some might argue that it should not be so, that our faith should be a “feel good” thing and should be made easy. I do not doubt their sincerity, but the discipline embodied in Sacred Scripture and its doctrinal expression by the Church makes following the path difficult (the “Way” as it was called in the very early Church at the time of Acts of the Apostles). In the Gospel today, the Lord tells us that constancy is not optional.
To emphasize the point of how difficult the path is to follow we give you a quote. Actually, it is a quote of a quote from Spe Salvi by Pope Benedict XVI who cited St. Augustine as he reflected upon his mission as Bishop of Hippo. This is what he wrote:
“The turbulent have to be corrected, the faint-hearted cheered up, the weak supported; the Gospel's opponents need to be refuted, its insidious enemies guarded against; the unlearned need to be taught, the indolent stirred up, the argumentative checked; the proud must be put in their place, the desperate set on their feet, those engaged in quarrels reconciled; the needy have to be helped, the oppressed to be liberated, the good to be encouraged, the bad to be tolerated; all must be loved”.
“The Gospel terrifies me”[4]
– St. Augustine
When we accept the role of Christian witness or if we simply agree to follow the precepts of the Church in our daily lives (all the issues St. Augustine identifies occur within us as well), we are faced with a daunting task that is only made possible because of God’s gift of the Holy Spirit, and the sacramental grace provided along the way.
Today let us pray that we be given the strength to overcome our unruly hearts, to embrace the Father with confident love, and to remain constantly vigilant: “…for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
Pax
[1] The picture used is “Last Judgment” by Raphael Coxce, c. 1600
[2] S.S Commemoratio
[4] St. Augustine, Sermo 339, 4: PL 38, 1481
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