Powerful Words

Tuesday Reflection by Sr. Rosemary Finnegan, O.P.
Readings from: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101221.cfm

St. Paul, as we know, wrote a lot. But he wrote a line in our reading from Romans today that only contains 7 words, 7 words that profoundly affected and changed his life.  Paul says: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel”.  Picture him writing this against the background of the whole Roman Empire.  The church at that point was pretty small compared to the might and power of Rome.  But his love for the gospel and the life and message of Jesus was great; it brought out thoughts in him that nothing else could. He wasn’t ashamed of what the Gospel had done for him; it made a change in his life, his love, his labor, and his loyalty. For Paul, the Gospel was worth living and dying for.

Today, it’s so inspiring to see so many women, men and children seriously studying the Scriptures. As we learn more, we are more confident to share it, and most important, live it. The gospel for us is good news about what God has done for us through Jesus, his loving Son and our Savior.

It is like the story of a wealthy man and his son who collected rare works of art.  They had everything from Picasso to Raphael and would often sit together and admire these great works.  During the Vietnam War, however, the son was called to serve, and unfortunately, died in battle.  The father grieved terribly.

After the war, a young man who had befriended the son came to visit the Dad.  He told the Dad that the son had talked about him often and about how much they had enjoyed their art pieces.  The young man happened to be an artist himself and had painted a picture of the son, which he gave to the Dad.  The father was overwhelmed and grateful, and marveled at how the friend had captured the personality of his son in the painting.

That son’s portrait hung over the mantle for many years, and anyone who came to visit the father would always see that picture first before any of the other masterpieces.

When the Dad died, there was an auction of his paintings.  Museum curators and influential people came hoping to add to their own valuable collections.  The first painting offered, however, was the painting of the son.  No one bid on it.  Someone in the audience suggested they skip it and move on to the other pieces.  But the auctioneer persisted and finally the longtime gardener offered $10, which was all he could afford, and the picture was sold.

To everyone’s surprise, the auctioneer put down his gavel then and said: “I’m sorry, the auction is over.  When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will, which is, whoever bought the painting of the son would inherit the entire estate, including the other paintings.  The man who took the son gets everything!”

Like this story, the gospel is the portrait of God’s son, Jesus.  We have purchased it by our baptism.  When we read and reflect on it, spread it, and live by it, treasures beyond our imaginations will be ours in abundance.