The Transcendentals

Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Rom 6:12-18; Ps 124:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8; Lk 12:39-48
Notes: Being a slaves of righteousness is not language we instantly accept. The institution of enslaving humans is known to be wrong.

At the core of things, we seek: Freedom To the Truth, Goodness, Unity, and Beauty.
When we are attracted to these as both subject and object we have ‘risen above’ or transcended to the highest form of being. These are called the transcendentals.

Here then St Paul is using certain attributes of slavery in its negative form to bring out the compelling nature of righteousness.

Righteousness – right relation with G-d and right relation with men.
Slavery to righteousness – instinctively or compelled to do right, even in some circumstances, against our natural will.

Slavery of the World

1. Obeying bodily desires without regard to consequences.
2. Using your talents and resources as weapons for wickedness.
3. Submitting to the powers of sin as if you are powerless to stop it.
4. Gospel portion today: ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk.

Slavery of Righteousness

1. Obey the beatitudes in living as to the pattern of teaching to which you were entrusted.
2. Obey from the heart, that is, my imperatives become soulful not bodily.
3. True freedom from sin, my decision is mine to offer. When truly free we pick the good.
4. Gospel portion today: the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?

It’s a journey.
I would like to be a better slave of righteousness.

First Reading
Brothers and sisters: Sin must not reign over your mortal bodies so that you obey their desires. And do not present the parts of your bodies to sin as weapons for wickedness.

Freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness.

Responsorial
Our help is in the name of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation
Stay awake! For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.

Gospel
Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry