Homily for Tuesday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time

For daily readings, see http://www.usccb.org/nab/103007.shtml

In St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, he contemplates the gift that death is as a just punishment for sin. On the surface, of course, death seems like the worst punishment we could imagine, and what is more, it is a punishment that each one of us inherits before we ever commit a personal sin. But Paul’s letter gives us pause to consider what it would be like if we were able to sin an infinite number of times, doing damage to God and to ourselves and to our neighbor. This, in Paul’s estimation would we worse than death; it was be a life of slavery to corruption. Through Jesus, however, the Christian has hope of escaping this slavery to corruption, even if the Christian must first face his own death trusting in the truth of what Jesus says to us. Yes, for a time we must fight the good fight, and even face our own death, but Jesus has already given us the firstfruits of his resurrection by filling us with grace, and being our constant companion even unto our death so that we may face every human situation with faith, hope and love. Because of his faith, Paul is able to consider the sufferings of the present time as nothing compared to the glory to be revealed in us. Faith in Jesus’ promises is like that mustard seed and that yeast; a little bit of faith completely changes who we are, how we live, and what we believe our final destiny to be!