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, in as much 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 actacquittal 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.
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.”
Meditation: Romans 5:12,15,17-21
Coming home from Mass one Sunday morning, a woman decided to quiz her teenage son.
“Did you enjoy Mass?” she asked. “It was okay,” came the somewhat indifferent response. “What did you think the homily was about?” The boy replied, “It was about Jesus, and the priest was for him.” “Was that all?” his mother asked. “No, it was also about sin, and the priest was against it.”
A surface reading of this passage from Romans can lead us to a similar response. In these verses, St. Paul compares the “trespass of one man, Adam”—which led to death—to the “righteousness of one man, Christ”—which leads to life. This classic comparison between Adam and Jesus, between disobedience and obedience, and between death and life lies at the heart of the church’s teaching on original sin and the promise of justification for those who believe and are baptized. It tells us that Adam’s first sin had consequences that are still with us today, but that Jesus’ complete obedience to God also has eternal—and even more powerful—consequences for us. Adam’s sin led to our condemnation, but Jesus’ obedience can lead all who believe to eternal life with God.
This is all very encouraging news, and very good theology. However, there’s something else in this passage that God wants to write on our hearts: When Jesus died on the cross, he unleashed a river of grace for the whole world. This “superabundant” grace has all the power of God to overcome sin and death and the control they used to have over humanity. We all can be set free!
This superabundant grace flows out to us day in and day out. It’s like the sun, which is constantly shining, even if there are clouds in the sky. Just as the sun can’t be “turned off,” neither will the light of God’s grace ever stop shining, offering us warmth and clarity. Even when our sins act like clouds, the grace is still there. All we need to do is remove the clouds through repentance, and his love and grace will shine on us once more. That’s how faithful God is to his promises!
“Thank you, Jesus, for overcoming sin and death once for all. Come, Lord, and let your light shine upon your church and upon each one of us. Right now we open ourselves to receive your super abundant provision of grace.”
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