Lectionary 475: A Layman’s Take

Key:

What these passages tell us about God

What these passages tell us to do

What these passages tell us not to do

Commentary/observations

Reading 1 ROM 6:12-18                                                                        

Brothers and sisters: Sin must not reign over your mortal bodies so that you obey their desires. And do not present the parts of your bodies to sin as weapons for wickedness, but present yourselves to God as raised from the dead to life and the parts of your bodies to God as weapons for righteousness. For sin is not to have any power over you, since you are not under the law but under grace.

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?
Of course not! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, although you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient from the heart to the pattern of teaching to which you were entrusted. Freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness.

Responsorial Psalm PS 124:1B-3, 4-6, 7-8                                     

R. (8a) Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Had not the LORD been with us, let Israel say, had not the LORD been with us– When men rose up against us, then would they have swallowed us alive; When their fury was inflamed against us.
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us; The torrent would have swept over us; over us then would have swept the raging waters. Blessed be the LORD, who did not leave us a prey to their teeth.
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
We were rescued like a bird from the fowlers' snare; Broken was the snare,
and we were freed. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.

Alleluia MT 24:42A, 44                                                                       

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Stay awake! For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 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."

1.    The emphasis today seems to be on actively serving God.  In the first reading we are instructed to be “weapons for” and “slaves of righteousness.” The gospel commends “faithful and prudent servant[s].”

2.   The first reading and gospel both suggest practical service. The instruction to “present…parts of your bodies to God” implies active, hands on, work. The illustration used in the gospel certainly involves practical service.

3.   The illustration in the gospel strongly suggests that our service to God should involve service to other people.

4.   Both the first reading and the gospel stress subordinating our own desires to God’s instruction; being obedient to God rather than self-indulgent.

5.    The gospel certainly warns against procrastination; we are to get on with what God has assigned us and not delay.

Lectionary 474: A Layman’s Take

Key:

What these passages tell us about God

What these passages tell us to do

Commentary/observations

Reading 1 ROM 5:12, 15B, 17-19, 20B-21

Brothers and sisters: Through one man sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned.

If by that one person's transgression the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflow for the many. For if, by the transgression of the one, death came to reign through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of justification come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ. In conclusion, just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so, through one righteous act acquittal and life came to all.
For just as through the disobedience of one man the many were made sinners, so, through the obedience of the one the many will be made righteous. Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through justification
for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Responsorial Psalm PS 40:7-8A, 8B-9, 10, 17                              

R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Burnt offerings or sin offerings you sought not; then said I, "Behold I come."
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me, To do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!"
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
May all who seek you exult and be glad in you, And may those who love your salvation say ever, "The LORD be glorified."
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Alleluia LK 21:36                                                                                   

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 12:35-38                                                                               

Jesus said to his disciples:  "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."

1.    The primary emphasis seems to be on doing God’s will in our day-to-day lives, living according to His general teachings, diligently and righteously pursuing the specific tasks He gives us. This seems to track the principles underlying Proverbs 21:3, Isaiah 58:3-10, Luke 3:8-14, Luke 11:27-18, James 1:21-25, and the other scriptures collected here and here.

2.   The gospel reading tells us to “gird [our] loins” and “light [our] lamps” so that we are able to do those things. That suggests that we take specific practical steps to better carry out whatever assignments God has given us. The alleluia verse gives us some particulars on this: keep our eyes open/be intentional about looking for ways to best accomplish the work He has given us, and pray for help in carrying that work out.

3.   There are good reasons to do those things. First, Christ’s goodness far, far, transcends the false goodness offered by any other path (first reading), so why would we want to purse anything else? Second, He promises great rewards to those who conscientiously serve Him (gospel reading).