Reflection on Today's Readings, Saturday of 28th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, October 16th, 2021
Texts: Romans 4:.13.16- 18; Ps. 105:6-9.42-43; Luke12:8-12
Today's first reading brings to mind Psalm 37:29: "The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever." The promise to inherit the world is given to the righteous. St. Paul affirms this when he says,The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith." The emphasis of St. Paul, today, is that the promise is for those who are righteous by faith, not by law. He tells us why the promise is dependent on righteousness of faith: "That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants — not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, for he is the father of us all". In these words, St. Paul mentions two reasons. First, the promise is dependent on righteousness of faith, that it might rest on grace. This means God wants us to know that His promise is fulfilled based on His own merit, not our merit. In this way it shows that God's faithfulness is not influenced by man; He fulfills His promise in spite of our unworthiness. God's faithfulness is beyond human holiness or sinfulness. However, it must be emphasised that the promise is for the righteous, that is, righteousness is requirement for the fulfilment of the promise. The point emphasised, today, is that the righteousness itself is the righteousness of God won through faith. It means faith is a prerequisite for the fulfilment of the promise: we only have to believe God and by believing we become righteous and possess the promise of God.
The second reason for making the promise dependent on righteousness of faith is that it could be guaranteed to all who share the faith of Abraham, not only to those who seek righteousness through the law. God is the Father of all who live; He makes it possible for all to come to Him in their differences. Whoever desires righteousness finds God. Hence, Jesus says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied" (Mtt. 5:6).
Jesus takes us further on faith in today's gospel reading: faith is an acknowledgement of God. To have faith is to acknowledge the existence of God and His characters. Jesus calls for faith in Him by saying, "Every one who acknowledges me before men, the Son of man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; but he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God." Faith in Jesus opens the door for heavenly graces. One of the graces received by faith in Jesus is righteousness, which guarantees the fulfilment of God's promises. Jesus also makes us realise that it is Holy Spirit that makes us righteous. He is also the one who moves us to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord (1Cor. 12:3). Whoever does not acknowledge Holy Spirit cannot acknowledge Jesus Christ. Whoever acknowledges Jesus Christ would also acknowledge Holy Spirit. Hence, Jesus says, "And every one who speaks a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven." Holy Spirit is the active principle in us; He continues to speak through us. Jesus says, "And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how or what you are to answer or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Without Holy Spirit we are emptied and unproductive. Righteousness is impossible without the Holy Spirit. Communion with the Holy Trinity is what wins us righteousness.
O Holy Spirit, we implore You, come and dwell in us that we might know the Father and the Son. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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