나바르 매일미사 독서/묵상

Friday

31st Week of Ordinary Time

(I) 1st Reading: Romans 15:14-21

Paul's Ministry
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[14] I myself am satisfied about you, my brethren, that you yourselves are full of
goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. [15] But on
some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the
grace given me by God [16] to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the
priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be
acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. [17] In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason
to be proud of my work for God. [18] For I will not venture to speak of anything ex-
cept what Christ has wrought through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by
word and deed, [19] by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Holy
Spirit, so that from Jerusalem and as far round as Illyricum I have fully preached
the gospel of Christ, [20] thus making it my ambition to preach the gospel, not
where Christ has already been named, lest I build on another man's foundation,
[21] but as it is written, "They shall see who have never been told of him, and
they shall understand who have never heard of him."

************************************************************************************ Commentary:

16. Christ "became a servant to the circumcised" (v. 8), that is, he directed his
teaching to the Jews, proclaimed to them the Gospel of the Kingdom, in order
to lead them to salvation. St Paul, within the context of the universal mission en-
trusted to the Apostles, was chosen to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to the Gen-
tiles (cf. Rom 1:5). As well as preaching the Good News, the Apostle's mission
included a strictly priestly commitment, which consisted in sanctifying the Gen-
tiles in order to make them an offering pleasing to God (cf. Eph 3:6-9).

Previously only the Jewish people could be considered a holy people, a priestly
people (cf. Ex 19:5-6). With the coming of Christ, the Gentiles also have become
an "acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit". All Christians who are part
of this "offering of the Gentiles" should take to heart what St Augustine says:
"You contain within you what you should offer. Draw from your heart, as from a
treasure chest, the incense of praise; offer from the treasury of your conscience
the sacrifice of faith. And with charity set fire to everything you offer. For within
you are these offerings which you should sacrifice in praise of God" ("Enarratio-
nes in Psalmos", 55, 19). In other words, consciousness of being called to share
in Christ's priesthood should help us to offer God our whole life: "Let the faithful,
then, learn to appreciate the dignity to which they have been raised by the Sac-
rament of Baptism [...] and let them not forget to offer themselves and their an-
xieties, their sorrows, their troubles, their miseries and their needs, in union with
their divine Head crucified" (Pius XII, "Mediator Dei", 25).
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(II) 1st Reading: Philippians 3:17-4:1

Citizens of Heaven
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[17] Brethren, join in imitating me, and mark those who so live as you have an
example in us. [18] For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you
even with tears, live as enemies of the cross of Christ. [19] Their end is des-
truction, their god is the belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on
earthly things. [20] But our commonwealth is in heaven, and from it we await a
Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, [21] who will change our lowly body to be like his
glorious body, by the power which enables him even to subject all things to him-
self.

Exhortation to Perseverance and Joy
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[1] Therefore, my brethren, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand
firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

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Commentary:

17. The Apostle's teaching goes further than to list a series of truths and rules
for moral behavior: he backs this up with his own life in the service of the Gospel,
and, through it, all men; this is what makes his preaching arresting and convin-
cing.

There is no better teaching than the teacher's own example," St John Chrysos-
tom exclaims, commenting on this passage; "by taking this course the teacher
is sure of getting his disciple to follow him. Speak wisely, instruct as eloquently
as you can ..., but your example will make a greater impression, will be more
decisive.... When your actions are in line with your words, nobody will be able
to find fault with you" ("Hom. on Phil, ad loc.").

This, then, is the standard Christians should aim at. It will help those they come
in contact with to learn how to be hard-working, noble, loyal and sincere people,
or at least to tend in that direction.

One can see from this verse, as from many other passages in his letters, that St
Paul refers to himself now as "me", now as "us". In the second case he is proba-
bly also referring to his co-workers; these they should also imitate, for like him
they are imitators of Christ (cf. 1 Cor 4:17). it is quite likely that he is thinking
particularly of Timothy, whose name he put alongside his own at the head of this
letter--and whom he praised in glorious terms in the previous chapter (cf. Phil
2:19, 22).

Imitation of the saints is a very good way to equip oneself to serve others. "Most
earnestly, then, we exhort you", Pius XII says, "be very solicitous for the salva-
tion of those whom Providence has entrusted to your apostolic labors, maintai-
ning throughout the closest union with our divine Redeemer, by whose strength
we can do all things (cf. Phil 4:13). It is our ardent desire, beloved sons, that you
may emulate those saintly men of old who, by the immensity of their achieve-
ment, bore witness to the power of divine grace. Would that each of you could
on the evidence of the faithful attribute to himself in humble sincerity the words
of the Apostle: 'I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls' (2 Cor
12:15)" ("Menti Nostrae", 31).

18-19. St Paul points to the bad example given by those (cf. v. 2) who, by uphol-
ding false doctrines or abusing their Christian freedom, lead a life steeped in vice;
they let themselves be controlled by their sensual appetites and they set their
hearts on things which enslave them, which should rather make them blush.
They are enemies of Christ's cross.

"They glory in their own shame": they take pride in behavior which is shameful.
This may also be an allusion to circumcision, for Judaizers were proud of a mark
which decency keeps covered.

20-21. "It is nature, flawed by sin, that begets all the citizens of the earthly city,
whereas it is grace alone which frees nature from sin, which begets citizens of
the heavenly city" ("De Civitate Dei", 15, 2). Christians are "citizens of heaven"
and therefore are called to live a life that is joyful and full of hope, as befits chil-
dren of God.

The effort to live in a manner worthy of members of the commonwealth of hea-
ven is aided by hope in the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in glory.
The Parousia, as well as the passion and death of Christ and his subsequent
resurrection, are constant themes in the Apostle's preaching. Reflection on
these mysteries helps us to have hope and gives us encouragement in our
everyday struggle.

Christ's resurrection is the cause of our resurrection, for "Christ has been raised
from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man
came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead" (1 Cor
15:20-21). An essential prerequisite for attaining resurrection in glory is the effort
to identify with Christ, in both joy and suffering, in both life and death. "If we have
died with him, we shall also live with him; if we endure, we shall also reign with
him" (2 Tim 2:12). Christ is the Lord of all creation; his authority extends over the
entire universe (cf. Col 1:15-20). If we make the effort that fidelity requires, he will
take our body, which is weak and subject to illness, death and decay, and trans-
form it into a glorious body.

Gospel Reading: Luke 16:1-8

The Unjust Steward
----------------------------
[1] He (Jesus) also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a ste-
ward, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.
[2] And he called him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear from you? Turn
in the account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.' [3] And
the steward said to himself, 'What shall I do, since my master is taking the
stewardship away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed
to beg. [4] I have decided what to do, so that people may receive me into their
houses when I am put out of the stewardship.' [5] So, summoning his master's
debtors one by one, he said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' [6]
He said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' And he said to him, 'Take your bill, and
sit down quickly and write fifty.' [7] Then he said to another, 'And how much do
you owe?' He said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your
bill, and write eighty.' [8] The master commended the dishonest steward for his
prudence; for the sons of this world are wiser in their own generation that the
sons of light.

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Commentary:

1-8. The unfaithful steward manages to avoid falling on hard times. Of course,
our Lord presumes that we realize the immorality of the man's behavior. What
he emphasizes and praises, however, is his shrewdness and effort: he tries to
derive maximum material advantages from his former position as steward. In sa-
ving our soul and spreading the Kingdom of God, our Lord wants us to apply at
least the same ingenuity and effort as people put into their worldly affairs or their
attempts to attain some human ideal. The fact that we can count on God's grace
does not in any way exempt us from the need to employ all available legitimate
human resources even if that means strenuous effort and heroic sacrifice.

1-8. 이 불충실한 집사는 어려움(hard times)들로 떨어지는 것을 간신히
피합니다. 당연히, 우리의 주님께서는 사람의 처신에 있어서의 비윤리성
(immorality)을 우리가 알아차릴 것임을 추정하고 계십니다. 그러나 당신께서
강조하시고 그리고 칭찬하시는 바는 다음과 같은 그의 기민함(shrewdness)과
노력입니다: 그는 집사라는 자신의 이전의 지위로부터 최대의 물질적 이득들을
도출하려고 노력합니다. 우리의 영혼을 구함에 있어 그리고 하느님의 나라를
퍼뜨림에 있어, 우리의 주님께서는 우리가 적어도 사람들이 자신의 세속적
일들을 혹은 어떤 인간적 이상(ideal)을 획득하고자 투입하는 바와 꼭 같은
독창성(ingenuity)과 노력을 적용할 것을 우리에게 원하십니다. 우리가 하느님의
은총을 확실한 것으로 기대하고 있다(count on)는 사실은 어떠한 경우에 있어서도,
심지어 그것이 가용할 수 있는 큰 노력을 필요로 하는 그리고 영웅적인 희생
(heroic sacrifice)을 뜻한다고 하더라도,적법한 인적 자원(human resources)들
모두를 사용할 의무(need)로부터 우리를 면제시켜 주지 않습니다.

"What zeal people put into their earthly affairs: dreaming of honors, striving for
riches, bent on sensuality. Men and women, rich and poor, old and middle-aged
and young and even children: all of them the same. When you and I put the
same zeal into the affairs of our souls, we will have a living and operative faith:
and there will be no obstacle that we cannot overcome in our apostolic under-
takings" (St. J. Escriva, "The Way", 317).

"열정적인 사람들이 자신의 세속적 일들에 투입하는 바들: 명예들에 대한
꿈꾸기, 재물을 얻고자 노력함, 관능에 작정을 하고 달려듦(bent on sensuality).
사람들과 여인들, 부자와 가난한 자, 늙은이와 중년과 젊은이 및 심지어 자녀들,
이들 모두가 꼭 같습니다. 그대와 내가 이 꼭 같은 열정을 우리의 영혼들에 대한
일들에 투입할 때에, 비로소 우리는 살아있으며 작용 중인 믿음을 가질 것이며,
그리고 우리의 사도적 임무 수행들에 있어 우리가 극복하지 못할 어떠한 장애물
(obstacle)도 존재하지 않을 것입니다" [성 호세마리아 에스크리바([St] J.
Escriva), "The Way", 317].

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번역자 주:

1. 오늘의 복음 말씀은, 여기를 클릭하면 읽을 수 있는, '약은 집사의 비유'와
'이 비유의 적용'으로 불리는 다해 연중 제25주일 복음 말씀(루카 복음서 16,1-13)에
포함되니 또한 참고하라.

2. 여기를 클릭하면, 그 내용의 이해가 어려운 '약은 집사의 비유'와 '이 비유의
적용'에 대한 해설 그리고 베네딕토 16세 교황님의 강론 및 관련되는 가톨릭 교회
교리서(CCC)의 가르침 등으로의 안내가 주어져 있으니 또한 참고하라.

3. 지금까지 언급한 내용들을 잘 정리한 글로서, 특히 루카 복음서 16,2의 "집사
일을 청산하게"라는 우리말 표현이 번역 오류임을 지적하는 엮은이의 졸글은
다음에 있으니 꼭 읽도록 하라:

http://ch.catholic.or.kr/pundang/4/soh/964.htm

(이상, 번역자 주 끝).
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Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States. We encourage readers to purchase
The Navarre Bible for personal study. See Scepter Publishers for details.