Servant of the Word: Tuesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time

“Your images shall be broken:
and I will cast down your slain men
before your idols”
Artist and Date UNKOWN

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

Commentary:

Commentary on Rom 1:16-25

St. Paul, after his opening introduction and prayer, takes up the major theme of his letter to the Romans, salvation through faith. The critical and unbelieving reception he received is acknowledged in the opening lines – “I am not ashamed of the gospel”.

This passage goes on to point out the purposely disrespectful attitude of the “those who suppress the truth” since God’s presence is make clear in His creation. In spite of this evidence they have made graven images of people (and animals) to worship. These amoral people have degraded themselves with their excesses and God, whom they have abandoned for creatures, has handed them over to this degradation of body and mind.

CCC: Rom 1:17 1814; Rom 1:18-32 401, 2087; Rom 1:18-25 57; Rom 1:18 2125; Rom 1:19-20 32, 287, 1147; Rom 1:24-27 2357

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5

R. (2a) The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

Commentary on Ps 19:2-3, 4-5

Psalm 19 is a hymn of praise. In these opening strophes, it rejoices in God’s visible hand, revealed in all creation which is the first of two themes expressed in the psalm (the other is in praise of the Law). While no word of God announces his presence, his glory is revealed in the creation of all things.

CCC: Ps 19:2-5 299; Ps 19:2 326

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Gospel: Luke 9:51-56

Commentary on Lk 9:51-56

This passage from St. Luke’s Gospel marks the beginning of the Lord’s final journey to Jerusalem. Just as his Galilean ministry began with a rejection by the people of his home town, this passage sees him rejected by the Samaritans. Jesus disregards the suggestion by his disciples to call down heavenly retribution. In doing so he disassociates himself from the image of Elijah (see what could be thought to be a parallel story in 2 Kings 1:10, 12). The final journey begins as it will end, with rejection.

CCC: Lk 11:37 588; Lk 11:39-54 579; Lk 11:41 2447
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Reflection:

Each and every one of us is called to assume the role of Zechariah as we look at the modern Diaspora. It is ironic that there were no conquering armies to destroy the geographical center of our faith as the Babylonians did in Zachariah’s time. No, the force which is causing the modern disapora is much more insidious. It is the force which, like a disease, attacks the moral and spiritual fiber that binds us together as a people of faith.

We need not look far to see the effects of secularism. It invades our homes through the media of entertainment and communication with others (these days social networks magnify that effect tremendously). It invades our schools under the guise of separation of church and state and even attacks our religious freedoms under the auspices of free speech and “social reform”. Most recently this attack has been reached epic proportions as the US Government has enacted laws that subvert our religions freedoms (HHS Mandate) and attempt to destroy the only civilly recognized institution that protects parents and their kids – marriage with the Supreme Court decision that essentially redefines not just marriage but family as well. In virtually every facet of our lives, we are encouraged to turn away from our God and adopt societal norms of morality which drive our daily activity.

Those of us who have remained strong in the face of this army of attackers find our numbers dwindling. We look to our own families and see the impact on our children and our children’s children. We see how these forces attempt to lure them away, to scatter them, metaphorically, to the winds.

When we consider their plight we think of the great Prophets, Zechariah among them. We should feel compelled to reach out, as he did; calling those scatted by societal forces. We call them back, exhorting them to see the wonders God has given us. We call them to accept once more the adoption of Christ and to remember the salvation that can be theirs.

At the same time, we must also call out to each other. Again as Zechariah did, the faithful must see that their example of faith is more powerful than the words of the mightiest prophet. Our example of faith and lived evidence of the Lord’s saving hand will strike a cord and cause them to look again at a path long rejected. In exhorting our own people we also strengthen the bonds of faith fortifying them against the constant on slot of political and social rhetoric aimed at weakening us further.

Today our example is Zechariah who, had he been born later, would have raised the banner of Christ who came to fulfill all he promised and prophesied. We pray today that our example and words might call out to the modern diaspora and strengthen the cadre of the faithful.

Pax

[1] S.S. Commemoratio

[2] The picture is “Your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols” Artist and Date UNKOWN