(Optional Memorial for Saint Margaret of Scotland)
(Optional Memorial for Saint Gertrude, Virgin)
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| “St John the Evangelist” by Alonso Cano, 1636 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: 2 John 4-9
Commentary on 2 Jn 4-9
This short letter (contained on one sheet of papyrus) is a rather intimate product of the Johannine community addressed to “the chosen lady and her children.” It addresses problems within the community. In this selection, the evangelist speaks to a problem of false teachers, individuals who have fallen into a heretical view that Christ did not walk the earth as man (“those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh”). These “deceivers” are to be rejected, and the proper view of Jesus Christ, true God and true man, which gives us both Father and Son, is to be embraced.
CCC: 2 Jn 7 465, 675
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:1, 2, 10, 11, 17, 18
R. (1b) Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Commentary on Ps 119:1, 2, 10, 11, 17, 18
An acrostic poem; each of the eight verses of the first strophe begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet (aleph). Each verse of the second strophe begins with the second letter (beth) and so on for all 22 letters of the alphabet.
The entire work is in praise of the Law, and the joys to be found in keeping it. It is not "legalism" but a love and desire for the word of God in Israel's Law, which is the expression of the Lord's revelation of himself and his will for man.
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Gospel: Luke 17:26-37
Commentary on Lk 17:26-37
In this section of his discourse, Jesus speaks of the Eschaton (the end times). Relating the coming of the Son of Man (the Parousia) to the purges of evil and disbelief of the Great Flood (Genesis 6:5-8, 7:6-24) and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:16-19:28), he tells his disciples that, in that time, the things of this world (including the physical body) do not matter. Using the example of Lot’s wife (cf. Genesis 19:26), he explains that any attempt to preserve physical reality will be disastrous. It is only important that one believes and has faith in Christ, for the soul is eternal, and the body must die. (“Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather.”)
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Reflection:
As this season draws close to its end (the end of this liturgical year is only a few weeks away), we feel Jesus in the Gospel more focused on life in the world that is to come. We get the clear picture that this earthly life we lead is important because it prepares us for what may follow. We might struggle with this at times. Living for each day seems so shortsighted, and looking forward to life in Heaven seems so fatalistic.
The question we pose today is this: what does our Triune God want from us in this life? That sounds much like the eternal question: What is the meaning of life? But in reality it is quite different. The Lord has told us his yoke is light, as he guides us through life. He has given us very basic underlying moral principles, and basic spiritual principles to guide us. St. John, in his Second Letter, makes clear reference to the main guiding commandment for our lives: “love one another.” We know how to interpret that word “love” because it was demonstrated by the life of Jesus. That pragmatic command should guide all our interpersonal actions, how we interact with others.
The spiritual guidance is simple as well: “Love God.” If we love God, then we respect his creation, we honor his foremost place in our lives by offering him glory in all of our efforts. Using the gifts we are given, we demonstrate to all we meet how gracious the Lord is; how merciful his love for us.
It sounds so simple; all we need to do is love God and love one another. Yet it is so complex because God gave us something that makes all of this difficult – he gave us free will coupled with an intellect that allows us to understand that God made us in his image. This in turn allows us to aspire to be like God, with unlimited power. So we struggle to use what God gives us without abusing it. We constantly fight the urges to redefine love, to reverse it and direct it at ourselves.
We come back to the initial question posed: What does our Triune God want from us in this life? We answer: “Love God and love one another.” Considering this “light yoke,” we continue to try to submit to it, knowing our baser selves fight it all the way.
Pax
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