Romans 8 Lectionary 481

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Scripture: Lectionary 481: Romans 8:26-30. Psalm 13:4-5.6. Luke 13:22-30:

Sometimes the Responsorial Psalm is what catches our attention and helps us to pray and understand the first reading and the Gospel. Today we have some splendid readings that can be unlocked or prayed through keeping in mind this verse of the Psalm : “Look, Lord, answer me, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes that I may not sleep in death.” (Verse 4). The following interpretation helps guide us to be open to the Holy Spirit in our prayer and to follow the narrow path and to enter by a narrow gate in the Kingdom of God. It is taken from the Soncino commentary on the Psalms, a Jewish commentary: “Lighten my eyes. Revive my spirit, restore my courage. The eye reveals the inward disposition. Age, grief or trouble darkens it; but when Jonathan recovered from the faintness of hunger after eating some honey, his eyes brightened (I Samuel xiv,27).”

Romans chapter 8 is entirely about our life in the Spirit and is one of the greatest chapters in the whole of the Bible on Scripture. We remember how Karl Barth, the outstanding Lutheran pastor and theologian, commented in his great work on Romans saying that this chapter should not be interpreted by exegesis. It is too clear to be scrutinized. Just read and enjoy what it does for the soul.

Our Psalm guides us and leads us to appreciate the selection from Romans 8:26-30. The plea to God to answer our prayers is given through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells within our hearts and helps us to communicate with the Father and the Son. All three Persons of the Trinity are present within this short passage! When are lips are numbed and silent and our hearts are weak, the Holy Spirit “searches hearts” and opens and enlightens our eyes. Paul tells us, “He who searches hearts knows what the Spirit means, for the Holy Spirit intercedes for the saints (us) as God himself wills.” (Romans 8:27).

Jesus is encouraging us to really open our eyes and to experience who he really is for us. His words are those of the Spirit and they are filled with life and light. Fr. Karris comments, “Casual eating and drinking with Jesus is not enough. One must share in his life as symbolized by his table fellowship with the lowly… Those who do not want to commit themselves to Jesus’ way find themselves outside. In graciousness God opens the banquet to all peoples.”

We need to savor the honey of the Holy Spirit to be enlightened by his words which are the Holy Spirit’s promptings. We need to see Jesus with clear eyes and with a listening and obedient heart that is open to God’s daily surprising calls and graces. Otherwise we are not on the path that leads to the narrow gate into life everlasting in the kingdom of God. Sometimes we think we know and see Jesus, but are eyes are not fully open to following him as he leads us on a narrow path to a narrow door into the kingdom. We are not in step with him on the road to the heavenly Jerusalem. When we allow the Spirit to be within our hearts we fulfill what Jesus has said, we will be with the patriarchs of our faith and we will be with the prophets. To do all of this we must assimilate all of chapter eight of Romans which is similar to the honey that brightened the eyes of Jonathan. Then we see and experience Jesus as Paul did through his openness to the Holy Spirit. Amen.