TUESDAY OF THE TWENTY-NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Romans 5:12, 15b, 17-21

Brothers and sisters:

Just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned—

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many.

If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, just as sin exercised dominion in death, so grace might also exercise dominion through justification leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Psalm 40:7-10, 17

Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.

Then I said, “Here I am; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; see, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!”

Luke 12:35-38

“Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

(NRSVCE)

Meditation

If we put ourselves in the shoes of someone who comes to the door and knocks, we know that there is a time of waiting outside the door. Are the people expecting me? Will they hurry to open the door? Will they keep me in suspense, wondering if they will open the door at all? The longer we wait, the less welcome and wanted we feel. No one is expecting me? Is there no room for me?

In this parable, the Lord reveals the proper boundary which is something that even God respects. We have doors that can be shut that God will not break down. God calls us but allows us to choose our response to Him. We may come swiftly to open to him or we can be distracted and delay, keeping him waiting. We are blessed when we keep the Lord in the forefront of our minds and keep ever ready to run to meet him when he comes.