Catechism Links [1]
CCC 144-149: The obedience of faith
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| "Communion of the Apostles” by Albrecht Altdorfer,1516-18 |
The night of the passover was known beforehand to our fathers,
that, with sure knowledge of the oaths in which they put their faith,
they might have courage.
Your people awaited the salvation of the just
and the destruction of their foes.
For when you punished our adversaries,
in this you glorified us whom you had summoned.
For in secret the holy children of the good were offering sacrifice
and putting into effect with one accord the divine institution.
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Commentary on Wis 18:6-9
This passage is part of what is known as the Fifth Diptych (a hinged two-leaved tablet used in ancient times for writing on with a stylus), a reflection on God’s salvation as he first chose the children of Israel, and then led them out of Egypt. In this diptych the author relates Moses' tenth plague (Exodus 11:1ff), the death of Egypt’s first born. Wisdom's author speaks to the fact that the Egyptians had committed infanticide in killing the infants of Moses’ generation (v. 1-5). The passage refers to the time before the Passover, the sacrifices made by those who had not seen the Exodus, and to following God's will.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22
R. (12b) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Exult, you just, in the Lord;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Blessed the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
See, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Our soul waits for the Lord,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O Lord, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
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Commentary on Ps 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22
Psalm 33 is a hymn of praise which celebrates God as creator. This invites the just to share the Lord’s salvation and promises his protection. Yahweh is the only salvation for Israel.
“In Ps. 33 there are integrated some of the most basic themes of Hebrew theology: creation, history, covenant, and human response of worship. And the integration of these themes indicates their fundamental inseparability in Hebrew religion; they are interdependent not independent.” [5]
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Reading II: Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19
Brothers and sisters:
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for
and evidence of things not seen.
Because of it the ancients were well attested.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place
that he was to receive as an inheritance;
he went out, not knowing where he was to go.
By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country,
dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise;
for he was looking forward to the city with foundations,
whose architect and maker is God.
By faith he received power to generate,
even though he was past the normal age
—and Sarah herself was sterile—
for he thought that the one who had made the promise was
trustworthy.
So it was that there came forth from one man,
himself as good as dead,
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky
and as countless as the sands on the seashore.
All these died in faith.
They did not receive what had been promised
but saw it and greeted it from afar
and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth,
for those who speak thus show that they are seeking a homeland.
If they had been thinking of the land from which they had come,
they would have had opportunity to return.
But now they desire a better homeland, a heavenly one.
Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God,
for he has prepared a city for them.
By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac,
and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son,
of whom it was said,
“Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.”
He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead,
and he received Isaac back as a symbol.
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Commentary on Heb 11:1-2, 8-19
The beginning of this reading gives us a classic definition of faith: “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” We note that this definition describes what faith does rather than giving a pure theological description. “Through faith God guarantees the blessings to be hoped for from him, providing evidence in the gift of faith that what he promises will eventually come to pass.[6] ” Looking at the translation above, it is instructive to consider the same verse as translated in the Jerusalem Bible: “Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of the realities that at present remain unseen.” That eloquent statement is followed by describing, a few verses later, Abraham’s response to faith, and the Lord’s reward, incomplete before Christ and completed by him.
CCC: Heb 11:1 146; Heb 11:2 147; Heb 11:8 145; Heb 11:17 145, 2572; Heb 11:19 2572
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Or
Shorter Form: Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-12
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for
and evidence of things not seen.
Because of it the ancients were well attested.
that he was to receive as an inheritance;
he went out, not knowing where he was to go.
By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country,
dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise;
for he was looking forward to the city with foundations,
whose architect and maker is God.
By faith he received power to generate,
even though he was past the normal age
—and Sarah herself was sterile—
for he thought that the one who had made the promise was
trustworthy.
So it was that there came forth from one man,
himself as good as dead,
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky
and as countless as the sands on the seashore.
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Commentary on Heb 11:1-2, 8-12
CCC: Heb 11:1 146; Heb 11:2 147; Heb 11:8 145
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Gospel: Luke 12:32-48
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not be afraid any longer, little flock,
for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
Sell your belongings and give alms.
Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out,
an inexhaustible treasure in heaven
that no thief can reach nor moth destroy.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.
Be sure of this:
if the master of the house had known the hour
when the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,
the Son of Man will come.”
Then Peter said,
“Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?”
And the Lord replied,
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward
whom the master will put in charge of his servants
to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.
Truly, I say to you, the master will put the servant
in charge of all his property.
But if that servant says to himself,
‘My master is delayed in coming,’
and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants,
to eat and drink and get drunk,
then that servant’s master will come
on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour
and will punish the servant severely
and assign him a place with the unfaithful.
That servant who knew his master’s will
but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will
shall be beaten severely;
and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will
but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating
shall be beaten only lightly.
Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,
and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”
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Commentary on Luke 12:32-48
In the longer form of the Gospel, St. Luke explains the example found in the parable of the vigilant servants, which is the heart of the shorter form. Jesus tells his disciples that the most valuable prize, the prize of faith and fidelity to God, is given to them freely, and that all of their worldly possessions amount to nothing in comparison. He tells them that the treasure they hold most dearly will define them to the world, and that constant focus on the spiritual gifts is the prize that will win salvation. The story makes it clear that those who fail, who focus on the things of earth and are not vigilant, will be found faithless and suffer the consequences.
CCC: Lk 12:32 764; Lk 12:35-40 2849
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Or
Shorter Form: Luke 12:35-40
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have the servants recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.
Be sure of this:
if the master of the house had known the hour
when the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,
the Son of Man will come.”
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Commentary on Lk 12:35-40
The idea of placing constant faithfulness first (most importantly present) is given as the moral of the Lord’s parable. Peter questions whether the parable is meant for everyone or just for the disciples he is addressing. The Lord then clarifies that any who would inherit the Kingdom of God must be constantly faithful to the Lord’s precepts. He goes on to conclude that no one may know the day or the hour that they will be called to account. Finally, he tells the disciples, who have been given much in their association with the Christ, that to those which much is given, even more is expected, essentially telling them that they must be examples to everyone, even each other.
CCC: Lk 12:35-40 2849
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Reflection:
OR Optional Memorial for Saint Cajetan, Priest.
[1] Catechism links are taken from the Homiletic Directory, published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014.
[2] The picture used today is ”Communion of the Apostles” by Albrecht Altdorfer,1516-18.
[3] S.S. Commemoratio
[4] 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 republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[5] The Word Biblical Commentary, Psalms 1-50, Volume 19 © 2004 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. p. 275.
[6] NAB footnote on Hebrews 11:1-40.
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