The Catholic Calendar for Monday, November 5, 2001
Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Romans 11:29-36
Psalm 69:30-31,33-34,36-37
Luke 14:12-14
Full text: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
A Reflection on Today's Scripture:
For the Gift and the Calling of God are Irrevocable
At his very best, Paul can be difficult to understand. And there are
things about this passage from Romans that are absolutely opaque. You
could probably spend years looking at it, analyzing it, studying the
exact words and phrases and still be no closer to understanding it
completely.
There in a nice package you have -- Mystery. A truth that surpasses
the human ability to encompass it. What does it mean that God
consigned all men to sin so that He could show His boundless mercy? I
don't know -- but I know that it is true. God could have forbidden
free will and thus kept all people bound to Him forever. But He loved
us with such a deep and tender love that He wanted the same in
return. Not the love of a created object for its maker, but the love
of a Child for its Father.
So many mysteries -- the falling away of Israel, the presence of sin,
the glory of creation -- are covered in a mere seven verses. But
among the most beautiful are the words of Romans 11:29: "For the
gifts and the call of God are (irrevocable)."
Just as parents cannot unmake their child, so God cannot unlove us.
He loved us to the very death of His son, and He loves us beyond.
"For from him and through him and unto him are all things." (Romans
11:36) We are made by him, through his Spirit we are sustained in
life, and ultimately we are called home to Him. For all these things,
"To him be the glory forever." (Romans 11:36).
- JuandelaCruz, TOC ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
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