October 22, 2013

Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 474
Reading 1 ROM 5:12, 15B, 17-19, 20B-21

Brothers and sisters:
Through one man sin entered the world,

That man through whom sin entered the world, is Adam.  He disobeyed God's command and that is the essence of sin (1 John 3:4).

and through sin, death,

Sin results in a rupture between the one who commits sin and the One whom one sins against, God.  Since, God is the source of eternal life, then one dies, when one sins against God.

and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned.

All, in this sense, is all those who actually committed sin.  Not all human kind has committed sin before they died.  For instance, the children who died in the womb and those who died before they achieved the age of reason.  

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.

"The many" does not mean "all" either.  For we know that not all men have accepted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  But many have also rejected His grace.

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.

This is a reference to the Sacraments where we receive the abundance of grace in this life, through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose grace flows to us through the Sacraments.

In conclusion, just as through one transgression
condemnation came upon all,
so, through one righteous act
acquittal and life came to all.

Through Adam's sin, we inherited a fallen nature.  Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we receive the hope of salvation.

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.

Through the sin of Adam, those who cooperate in sin will die to eternal life. But through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, those who cooperate with righteousness will partake of eternal life.

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.

And, although men sinned mightily, God poured His grace upon us even more abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

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

R. (8a and 9a) 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.

Let us choose righteousness and live.  Turn to God and do good without tiring.  Love God and love neighbor, this is the end and fulfillment of the Commandments.

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.”

Blessed are they who serve the Will of God without tiring.  They will themselves be served in the next life.