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“Handing-over the Keys”
by Raffaello Sanzio,1515 |
Readings for Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time [1]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
Readings and Commentary: [3]
Reading 1: Ephesians 3:2b-12
Brothers and sisters:
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace
that was given to me for your benefit,
namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation,
as I have written briefly earlier.
When you read this
you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
which was not made known to human beings in other generations
as it has now been revealed
to his holy Apostles and prophets by the Spirit,
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same Body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.
Of this I became a minister by the gift of God’s grace
that was granted me in accord with the exercise of his power.
To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given,
to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ,
and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery
hidden from ages past in God who created all things,
so that the manifold wisdom of God
might now be made known through the Church
to the principalities and authorities in the heavens.
This was according to the eternal purpose
that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
in whom we have boldness of speech
and confidence of access through faith in him.
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Commentary on Eph 3:2b-12St.
St. Paul’s dialogue on the unity of all the faithful in Christ is continued in this passage. He begins this section with a brief reference to his own specific mission, to bring the Gospel of Christ to the Gentile community (see Galatians 1:6ff; Acts 15:2ff based upon the decisions made at the Council of Jerusalem). The apostle pronounces the Gentiles as coheirs to the salvation offered by God in Jesus and uses the analogy of the “body” to signify the degree to which all are united. He concludes this passage with a summary of the grace and richness offered in proclaiming Christ to the world using himself as example.
CCC: Eph 3:4 1066; Eph 3:8 424; Eph 3:9-12 221; Eph 3:9-11 772; Eph 3:9 1066; Eph 3:12 2778
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Responsorial Psalm: Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6
R. (see 3) You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
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Commentary on Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6
This hymn of praise is a profession of faith: “My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior.” It is also interesting in that it challenges those who profess their faith in the Lord to proclaim it in the world: “among the nations make known his deeds, proclaim how exalted is his name.”
This canticle emphasizes the peace and confidence found in his servant, enjoying the salvation of God. He sings his praise to God and exhorts all of Israel to praise him as they see his constant presence among them in the blessings they receive.
CCC: Is 12:3 2561
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Gospel: Luke 12:39-48
Jesus said to his disciples:
“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, he will put him
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 Lk 12:39-48
Following the Lord’s initial exhortation to his audience about the need to remain faithful, even if it seemed the hour was getting late, St. Peter asks the Lord if that message is for everyone or just for the disciples. The Lord responds with a parable similar to that which was used in the previous verses (Luke 12:35-38), and then punctuates it with a special injunction for the disciples. He uses the analogy of a servant entrusted with the master’s property, concluding with: “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” The final verse in this passage answers St. Peter’s question clearly.
CCC: Lk 12:35-40 2849
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Reflection:
One of the big objections to Catholicism in the world at large is its apparent overly strict and idealistic stand against moral issues like birth control (including abortion), premarital sex, cohabitation of couples, same-sex marriage, and overall critical view of the hedonistic lifestyle so prevalent in much of the developed world (putting aside for the moment the ongoing clergy scandals taking place around the world).
This was emphasized in the media firestorm over the Synod on Marriage and the Family a few years ago in which different views on how to express the Church’s dogma on some of these hot-button issues were expressed by the attendees. (As a side note we find it ironic that the press somehow feels that all bishops participating should agree on exactly how the Church should change or not change.) For those of us who understand the role of the synod, we know that these are deliberations with recommendations and have no final authority within the magisterium.
Many of these critics say the leadership is unrealistic and the Church’s position on these issues is so provincial that her stance makes her irrelevant to large numbers of peoples and cultures. At the heart of this apparent unbending moral doctrine is that last line in St. Luke’s Gospel “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”
Through St. Peter, Christ gave the Church the “keys to the kingdom of God.” He told St. Peter that whatever he loosed on earth (whatever standards he approved on earth) would be loosed in heaven. In essence, what was entrusted to the Church and its leaders was nothing less than the teaching and moral authority of the Lord himself (the magisterium). In keeping and holding that trust, the leaders of the Church must take the highest moral standard, no matter how unpopular, and cling to it. Think of the consequences if they should fail. There is a reason that when a new pontiff is elected, he goes immediately to “the room of tears,” so much rests on Peter.
For each of us, we are called, not to be perfect, although that is the standard set for us by Jesus, and the one the Chair of Peter continues to strive for, but rather to work constantly to improve our understanding of God’s call to holiness. We must, because we are of the world, react to situations with which we are faced. Sometimes our human nature gets the better of us and we fail to love consciously and withhold our compassion. Our goal is at some point to instinctively react out of the love and compassion given to us in the Gospel. Until that day, we listen to the teaching words of our leaders, the successors of St. Peter, and do our best to follow their high standards in spite of the ridicule of those who would have us take an easier path.
Today we pray that we are able to accept our share of the responsibility Christ placed upon our shoulders at the time of our baptism and confirmation. Much has been given to us as well, and we are assured that much will be expected in return. We give thanks that the yoke is light with the support given in the Holy Spirit, and we shoulder it gladly in Christ’s name.
Pax
[1] The picture used today is “Handing-over the Keys” by Raffaello Sanzio,1515.
[2] S.S. Commemoratio[3] 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.
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