REFLECTION ON TODAY'S GOSPEL
Where sin abounded, grace abounded more abundantly
St. Paul tells us: that by the sin of one man death entered the world, so also by an act of justice justification and life resulted for all, comparing Christ with Adam, who plunged the human race into death because of his sin. Christ, on the contrary, is the source of grace, justice and life for all men. "In short, as by one trespass there resulted condemnation for all, so by one act of righteousness there resulted justification and life for all. For as by one man's disobedience all were made sinners, so by one man's obedience all will be made righteous. Where sin abounded, grace abounded more abundantly, so that as sin reigned through death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord."
As Christians we are called to announce to all the salvation, the new life that Christ brings us, the love that God has had for us, sending his Only Son to give his life for all without exception. This is the great mission of the Church: to evangelize, to announce that death has been conquered, that it has been destroyed on the Cross, that it no longer has any power over us. If one day death entered the world through Adam's disobedience, it has been destroyed by Christ's obedience and fidelity to his Father's will, as the Apostle says: "The fidelity of Christ is salvation and the source of life" (1 Corinthians 2,1).
Blessed are the servants whom the Lord finds watching when he comes
Today's gospel presents us with a warning, a beatitude and a promise. The warning has to do with vigilance: Keep your waist girded and your lamps burning. Christ invites us to be expectant, with the attitude of one who has his lamps burning, waiting for someone to come. We also see the beatitude: Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, finds awake, because we do not know at what time the master will return, we must always be attentive and prepared; if this is fulfilled, Christ makes the great promise to those who are faithful: I tell you the truth, he will gird his loins, make them sit at the table and will begin to serve them, an image that reminds us of the Last Supper.
We must be like the servant who is always ready for the arrival of his master. We are citizens of Heaven and we must be prepared for the meeting with Christ, we know neither the day nor the hour when our Lord Jesus Christ will return. Perhaps we should ask ourselves: "If Christ were to come now, would we be prepared, would he meet us with our lamps burning or on other business? Christ invites us not to let lukewarmness invade us, which leaves our hearts empty of God and we run the risk of filling them with other things that are not of God. Rather, we are called to remain faithful and obedient to what the Lord says until He comes. In short, Christ invites us to be faithful servants because, although we know neither the day nor the hour when he will return, we do know what his will is. Lord, do not allow that, for lack of vigilance, other things occupy the place that only you should fill. Teach us to keep our souls free for you and our hearts ready for your coming. And as faithful children of the Lord, let us continue to pray for peace in the world and especially for what we are experiencing in the holy land (Israel and Palestine). May Almighty God bless you and be with you today and always. Amen.
