31st Week in Ord. Time, Tuesday – 07th November 2023 – Romans 12,5-16; Lk 14,15-24
Trio Commands
In the first reading, Paul describes the various aspects of our life in Christ narrowing down to three short commands: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Rom 12,12). These three commands are key to the emotional and spiritual well-being of every Christian. The first command to Christians is to rejoice in hope. It’s not a command to be happy, but to have the right perspective on our situation. Often, we resist our attitude to be joyful. But the idea here is to have a reason for joy. We should agree with God that our hope is worth rejoicing over. The hope, Paul is referring to, is of the redemption of our bodies and being united with our Father forever once our adoption is complete (Rom 8,23-24). The next command is to be patient in tribulation or affliction. This becomes much easier if we keep the other two commands. Those who see their future worth celebrating and who pray to the Father continually will have a much easier time being patient during hardship. Paul is not downplaying the genuine pain that one experiences. Life can be unpleasant, and not all moments are happy moments. Yet Paul points out that the struggles of life on earth are not worth comparing with the glory to come (Rom 8,18). So, we wait with patience (Rom 8,25). The final command also connects well with Paul’s thoughts in Romans Chapter 8. During any time of suffering, while waiting for what we’re hoping in, we should keep on praying. Prayer brings a connection with the Father through the Holy Spirit (Rom 8,26-27). He hears, understands, and helps in our attempts to communicate with the Father. Therefore, the Christian must serve with enthusiasm and focus, mastering one’s emotions to rejoice in the future and be patient in the present.
