General. Sunday, like the Sabbath for the Jews, is the Day of the Lord. It is a day reserved by God for rest – He actually rested on that from the work He had done over six days, even if that was not lucrative work but work done out of love for humanity, the peak of creation, to live by. Let alone us, who sweat and toil for six days, and neglect giving due praise to the Lord. The Sunday Mass is a collegial way of giving such praise in comparison with reading a dose of worldy articles in a Sunday paper or visiting the flea-market.

First Book of Kings. The name of God has always borne great significance to the Jewish people. To this very day they dare not pronounce it and even write it unvocalized (G-d). Calling God’s name is feeling worthy of His protection and turning to Him as a young child turns to his father and intimately calls him Dad. This intimacy with the Father was the ‘great sin’ which led Jesus to his death on the cross. Solomon was a liberal for his days. It was not ‘God of the Jews’ he was lauding, but a God of all peoples who enjoy universal brotherhood in Him.

Epistle to the Galatians. St Paul ascribes his calling to Jesus and to His Father, certainly not to man. In fulfilling his mission he had to leave the ways of the world and seek not to satisfy men but God. In pleasing men, one would be adding to one’s own glory and showing himself above others in knowledge and attributes (recall Jesus laying aside the mantle in the Last Supper), whereas in serving one has to slave to others and put on the apron, indeed a condescension. It is for this reason that God rose Jesus from among the dead to make him Lord (Kyrios) above all humanity.

St Luke. Through Jewish intermediaries, the Roman centurion condescends to ask Jesus healing for his beloved servant. Jesus is astounded by the centurion’s faith, not having seen the like of it anywhere among the Jews, God’s chosen people. Jesus came to heal the sick man, not the healthy, the pagan and the heathen, not those who abide blindfoldedly with the Law. In accepting Jesus enter under our roof, we have to lay bare our hearts before him and be ready to accept God’s Word in our lives.

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