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The Christmas Cycle
this acknowledgment, for “many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with
Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” (Gospel).
Today the Church admires the faith of the Roman centurion. He has not been prepared for the
coming of Christ by the prophets, the Scriptures, or the miracles wrought by God to strengthen
the faith of His people. And yet he believes. He not only believes that Christ can heal his servant,
but is persuaded that it is not even necessary for Christ to come down to his house; His mere
word will suffice. In fact, his great reverence for the person of Christ leads him to believe that
it would be an indignity for Christ to enter his house.
How different is the attitude of the Jews! They have closed their eyes to the wonders
that Christ works; they have forgotten the prophecies of the Old Testament. The workings
of grace are indeed mysterious. “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy; and I will
show mercy to whom I will show mercy” (Rom 9:15). And the Apostle continues: “So
then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy”
(Rom 9:16). If, then, we have been called to the kingdom of God, it is not of our own doing
nor because of our worthiness, but because of the mercy of God. How wonderful is God’s
mercy toward us!
To whom does God show this mercy? It is to little ones, the patient ones. “I confess
to thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the
wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to the little ones” (Mt 11:25). The wise and
the learned in Israel, who trust in their knowledge of the Scriptures, are left to perish
in their own conceit. To the little ones who can rely on no earthly wisdom it is given
to know the mysteries of God. “God resisteth the proud, but to the humble He giveth
grace” (1 Pt 5:5).
“He that thinketh himself to stand let him take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor 10:12). If the chosen
people could misuse the grace of God, may not we do the same? Indeed, how often have we
not failed to respond to grace! How little effort we put forth to repel venial sins! Often enough
to place mere whims and personal preferences before the will of God. “And if some of the
branches be broken and thou, being a wild olive, art ingrafted in them and art made partaker
of the root and of the fatness of the olive tree, boast not against the branches. But if thou boast,
thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then: The branches were broken off
that I might be grafted in. Well! because of unbelief they were broken off. But thou standest by
faith. Be not high minded, but fear. For if God hath not spared the natural branches, fear lest
perhaps He also spare not thee” (Rom 11:17–21).
Prayer
O Lord, Thou hast made us participate in so great a mystery; grant, we beseech Thee, that our
lives may be an example of gratitude. Amen.
Tuesday
“The Lord hath built up Sion,” His Church (Gradual). The kingdom of God is the kingdom of
the spirit, a kingdom of peace and love. Thus we are assured by the Epistle of the third Sunday
after Epiphany.
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