First Reading: Deuteronomy 11:18, 26-28, 32

The Book of Deuteronomy gives a foundation for the later religious practices of the Jews. The command about the “words of mine,” the Law, to “bind them at your wrist. . .and. . .a pendant on your forehead” was taken literally. Beginning sometime later in their history, pious Jews wrapped a phylactery around their arm and around their forehead, when they offered their daily prayers or even worn all day. The small leather boxes, called tefillin, contain a small scroll with passages from the Torah: Exodus 13:1-10; 13:11-16; and Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:13-20.

The Book of Deuteronomy powerfully stated the need to worship only the one God and follow his laws. Some scholars distinguish between the two terms, statutes and decrees. “Statutes” refer to laws, which reason would not be able to find on its own. They are expressions of divine sovereignty. “Decrees” are laws, whose purpose is evident and would be enacted by human society, even if God had not commanded them.

Second Reading: Romans 3:21-25, 28

Paul writes to a community of faith in Rome, a city that he had not yet visited, but to which he was intending to go. He is aware that there are Gentile members in that Church, so he goes to great lengths in this letter to show that the coming of Christ Jesus has opened the possibilities equally for Jew and Gentile. Everyone “is justified by faith.” The Law, referring to the Torah and the observances of pious Jews, is not a limiting factor to receive the benefits of “the redemption in Christ Jesus.”

The “righteousness of God” describes the action of God to offer salvation. It goes beyond the Law, although it does not contradict what is presented in the Law or the prophets, who applied the Law to the rulers and people of Israel. The Law and the Prophets, the first two sections of the Hebrew Bible, are witnesses to the power and mercy of God. The Law does not mark the boundaries of God’s own intent for inviting others to accept faith in Him. There is a universal element in the Old Testament Scriptures, especially in the last section of the Book of Isaiah.

The phrase, “faith in Christ Jesus,” is ambiguous. It can also be translated as “faithfulness of Christ Jesus.” Thus, it can refer to the response of the individual through faith or the example of Christ, who accepted the Cross “as an expiation.” Either meaning fits into this passage, and… both are true! Pauline ambiguity often works this way.

Righteousness is an acquittal of the sins that legally deprive someone from claiming “the glory of God.” The two words, “righteousness” and “justification,” are the same word in Hebrew and Greek. In the final line, Paul contrasts faith and works of the Law. A very similar saying is repeated in his Letter to the Galatians 2:16. It appears to be a basic premise of faith in the early Church.

When I was in a parish with a school, we were hard pressed to collect tuition for the students. One family was particularly difficult to work with. Their thought was that, as a Church, we should provide a Catholic education, whether or not the tuition was paid. But there is a law of justice, which supersedes charity. Our teachers cannot carry the financial burden of the students any more than they already did. I couldn’t just forgive the debt. There was no other fund to cover the cost of education. That was my dilemma! Then, soon afterward, an envelope came through the mail slot one night at the parish office. There was a bundle of cash and an anonymous note, which instructed us to pay the back tuition for the family. Someone had made atonement and paid the price for justice… and I was off-the-hook, too!

Gospel: Matthew 7:21-27

The continuous reading from the Gospel of Matthew is still taken from the First Discourse, the Sermon on the Mount. “That day” is the final day of judgment upon creation, an eschatological message. The Beatitudes, given at the beginning of the discourse, were the teaching for disciples in order to avoid the disaster that is threatened for those who fail to heed the warning. These are “the words of mine,” which provide wisdom.

The “many,” who will be denied entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven participated in the three religious experiences of prophecy, exorcism and miracles. However, that does not guarantee a reward. They are still called “evildoers.” The Lord renounces and repudiates them: “I never knew you. Depart from me. . .” They called upon the Lord, but they did not “listen to these words of mine.” They are not righteous/justified before the Lord.

Two parables are presented in parallel form: the wise man and the fool. These are typical, contrasting figures in wisdom literature. Both listen, but only the wise man acts on what has been heard. Action is intrinsic to understanding and acceptance. It is also linked to the success of one’s life. Are you listening to the Lord? Does it make a difference in the choices you make?

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Fr. Richard C. Macey is pastor of Our Lady of the Woods Parish, Woodhaven.