Lectionary 492

492.doc

Scripture: Lectionary 492. Wisdom 2:23-3:9. Psalm 34:2-3,16-17, 18-19. Luke 17:7-10:

Jesus has some strong words again in today’s reading. One consoling thought is that he never asks us to do anything that he would not do. He makes demands, but also gives us the example of how to cope with our struggles; and, yet, he never lets up in his strong words to us. Paul understood this when the Lord told him, “My grace is sufficient for you.”

We have seen how Jesus exemplifies what Wisdom is and models God’s wisdom for us through his life and his words. He is telling us that we are servants of God our Creator (douloi means slaves as well as servants). We are to be humble and generous in our role as servants of God and God’s creation. Jesus is our model as we see in the first hymn recorded by Paul that tells us who Jesus is:

Yours is to be the same mind which Christ Jesus shewed. His nature is, from the first, Divine, and yet he did not see, in the rank of Godhead, a prize to be coveted; he dispossessed himself, and took the nature of a slave, fashioned in the likeness of men, and presenting himself to us in human form; and then he lowered his own dignity, accepting an obedience which brought him to death, death on a cross. That is why God raised him to such a height, given him that name which is greater than any other name; so that everything in heaven and on earth and under the earth must bend the knee before the name of Jesus, and every tongue must confess Jesus Christ as the Lord, dwelling in the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5-11, Monsignor Knox translation

Jesus teaches us that we as servants have the dignity of being made in the image and likeness of God. This is affirmed by Genesis 1:27 and also by Jesus’ citing it when he speaks of marriage as seen by him and his Father.

Our reading from Wisdom confirms this revealed truth based on the first book of the Bible. Jesus then applies it to all of us and also to those who are married and should not be separated from each other.

In the context of the Carmen Christi given to us by Paul we learn that the early Church saw Jesus as a meek and humble servant-slave of the Lord God Creator. Jesus then tells us, “ When you have done all you have been commanded to do say, ‘We are useless servants. We have done no more than our duty.” (Luke 17:10).

We respond to this call of God and Jesus with our Psalm: “I will bless the Lord at all times.” Amen.