Reflection on Today’s Readings, Tuesday of 29th Week in Ordinary Time, Yr. I, October 24th, 2023
Texts: Romans 5:12.15.17-19.20-21; Psalm 40:7-10,17; Luke 12:35-38 

Today’s message is about what Jesus Christ has achieved for us and how to live our lives in Him. St. Paul explains why we should hope in Jesus Christ for salvation. He tells us that God has shown that one man’s deed could affect a whole human race. He puts it thus: “As sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned.”  

In Adam, our first parent, God shows that human race could reap the fruits of one man’s disobedience. The fruits of disobedience are sin and death. It is therefore clear in Adam that obedience of one man could bring righteousness and eternal life. In the words of St. Paul: “If, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man  Jesus Christ.” 

The merit of obedience is much more than the demerit of disobedience

St. Paul also notes that the merit of obedience is much more than the demerit of disobedience. He puts it thus: “For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of that one man  Jesus Christ abounded for many.” The merits of Jesus’ obedience has far reaching effect that the demerits of Adam’s disobedience. The redemptive power of Jesus’ obedience is greater than the destructive power of Adam’s disobedience.  

St. Paul affirms the guarantee of abundance of grace and righteousness in Jesus Christ. Having been made righteous in Christ, we are to live righteously all the times. Jesus Christ communicates the need to live righteously daily in these words: "Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the marriage feast, so that they may open to him at once when he comes and knocks.” We need to preserve the righteousness He bestowed on us when we turned to Him. 

It is a blessing for us to be righteous

Jesus Christ assures us of blessing at His second coming, if He meets us living a righteous life. We will enjoy His services; He will serve us Himself. He says, “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and he will come and serve them.” Hence, it is a blessing for us to be righteous. It is not a curse as some people think.  

Prayer  

God our Father, we thank You for Your gift of righteousness to us, grant that we may always live righteously. Amen  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke