Servants of God

Nov. 12: Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr

In today’s first reading, you might recognize the phrase “as we await the blessed hope” from every mass you’ve ever been to. The priest says it after we pray the Our Father. What you may not know (I certainly didn’t) is that it’s called the “embolism.” It has nothing to do with the medical condition; instead, it comes from the Latin word emballein—“insert.”

At one time, the doxology (“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever”) was thought to be a part of scripture, but was later deemed inauthentic. The embolism was inserted between these passages as a brief prayer to explain and amplify what had just been said in the Lord’s Prayer.

Thus concludes your etymology lesson for today.

Reading 1

Ti 2:1-8, 11-14

Beloved: You must say what is consistent with sound doctrine, namely, that older men should be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, love, and endurance. Similarly, older women should be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to drink, teaching what is good, so that they may train younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, chaste, good homemakers, under the control of their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited.

Urge the younger men, similarly, to control themselves, showing yourself as a model of good deeds in every respect, with integrity in your teaching, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be criticized, so that the opponent will be put to shame without anything bad to say about us.

For the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good.

Continuing from yesterday, today’s reading is more of Paul’s instructions to Titan on how to lead the Church in Crete. Just as priests and religious must be examples to their congregations, the elderly should be examples to the youth. No one is born with the knowledge of how to behave, and it’s up to earlier generations to pass down the laws and morals they know.

It’s this continuity, then, that will reflect well on the entire community to the rest of the world. Collective, all Christians ought to be an example to everyone. And that starts with educating our own children.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 37:3-4, 18 and 23, 27 and 29

R.    (39a) The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Trust in the LORD and do good,
that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will grant you your heart’s requests.
R.    The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
The LORD watches over the lives of the wholehearted;
their inheritance lasts forever.
By the LORD are the steps of a man made firm,
and he approves his way.
R.    The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Turn from evil and do good,
that you may abide forever;
The just shall possess the land
and dwell in it forever.
R.    The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

This Psalm had a special place in the hearts of early Christians. It responds to the Problem of Evil with a hopeful answer—it’s only temporary. God’s justice will prevail. “The land” in the first verse obviously refers to Israel, but Jesus’ followers identified it with Heaven, the ultimate hope.

Alleluia

Jn 14:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

As always, the ultimate law is love.

Gospel

Lk 17:7-10

Jesus said to the Apostles: “Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’? Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished’? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’”

Archbishop Joseph M. Raya wrote—

The most divine of all the commandments, which no prophet or any founder of religion ever thought to utter, was spoken by our Lord in an easy, clear, and natural way. His commandment was not just to love the enemy, or to love the whole world, but to love as I have loved. Christ’s love had two characteristics: first to love without limit or condition; second, to love until the end.

Jesus isn’t asking a lot of us; He’s asking everything of us. It’s impossible for humans to do on our own. We can’t follow the law, or even act in charity, and demand to be rewarded by God. No matter what we do, it’s nothing compared to what God has given us.

Raya goes on—

Such a love, such a commandment to love, cannot be bestowed or practiced except by a divine Being, or by those who have been divinized. Neither could such a teaching be produced by human intelligence. Only an infinite intelligence and an infinite love could be its origin. The Lord is truly Divinity, and he wants his followers to be and to act divine. This kind of love, which has no limit or condition, is the only love that can set us free.

We can be fruitful servants with God’s help. And with that help, we can make the world a better place for ourselves and everyone else, too.