(Optional Memorial for Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop)
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| “Crucifixion” by Pierre-Paul Prud'hon, 1822 |
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
Psalm 40 is a song of thanksgiving. It is also combined with a lament. 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.
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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 into 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
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 accepted the Cross for our salvation. He recreated us in the image of himself and opened the gates of paradise for all eternity.
Pax
[1] The picture is “Crucifixion” by Pierre-Paul Prud'hon, 1822
[4] St. Augustine, In Jo. ev. 72,3:PL 35,1823.
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