A Reflection for Sabbato infra Hebdomadam III post Octavam Paschæ
Readings: Sirach 31:8–11 · Luke 12:35–40
As Holy Mother Church leads us deeper into the radiant mysteries of Paschaltide, the sacred readings for this Saturday—drawn from the book of Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) and the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke—converge upon a theme ever ancient, ever new: vigilance in virtue and readiness for judgment. These words, proclaimed within the venerable structure of the Tridentine Mass, speak with precision to both the interior disposition of the Christian soul and the visible fruit it must yield.
The Just Man in Prosperity — Sirach 31:8–11
“Blessed is the rich man that is found without blemish: and that hath not gone after gold, nor put his trust in money, nor in treasures.”
In this passage, the inspired writer extols a rare but glorious example: the man who, though possessing wealth, has not let it possess him. Unlike the worldly man who measures success in silver and gold, the just man remains anchored in virtue, preferring the fear of God over financial gain.
St. Cyprian of Carthage, in his Treatise on Works and Alms, warned that “the riches which ensnare the soul are more dangerous than those that enrich the body.” Likewise, St. John Chrysostom, ever the moral physician, speaks of wealth as a tool to be judged by its use: “The rich man is not one who has much, but one who gives much.”
Here in Sirach, the rich man without blemish is praised not because he has escaped poverty, but because he has conquered the temptation to prefer mammon over God. His riches have not corrupted his judgment; rather, they serve as a test of his fidelity. Such a man is likened to one who, though tried, is crowned—as echoed in the final verse: “He shall have everlasting glory.”
The Vigilant Servants — Luke 12:35–40
“Let your loins be girt, and lamps burning in your hands.”
In the Gospel, Our Blessed Lord exhorts His disciples to maintain a spirit of alertness, like servants awaiting the return of their master. The imagery is stark: girded loins, burning lamps, open ears. It is the picture of a Church Militant, ever-prepared, ever-faithful, never slumbering.
St. Gregory the Great, commenting on this passage, writes in his Homilies on the Gospels:
“He who watches with his lamp burning is he who, with the light of faith and the fire of charity, looks forward to the coming of the Judge.”
Christ’s call is not merely to vigilance, but to a joyful readiness, marked by fidelity in the small things. As St. Augustine notes, “He who is faithful in the least is ready for the greatest.” The coming of the Master—whether at the hour of death or at the end of time—should not be feared by the just but longed for with burning hearts.
How do these two readings intertwine? The just rich man of Sirach is precisely the vigilant servant of Luke. His treasures are ordered to the higher treasure of eternal life. He is not asleep in comfort but watchful in grace. His wealth has not rendered him sluggish but given him opportunity to do good. And thus, when the Master returns, He finds him awake, and says to him as in the parable: “Blessed is that servant… Amen I say to you, he will set him over all His possessions.”
Living the Mystery in Paschaltide
In this Easter season, the Church reminds us that the Resurrection of Christ is not merely an historical event, but a supernatural call: to rise with Him in newness of life. The readings today show us what that risen life looks like:
- Detachment in abundance
- Fidelity in the night hours
- Readiness when the Master comes
Let us, then, take to heart the words of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, who writes:
“The hour is near, the Judge is at the door; let us keep our loins girt and our lamps burning, that when He knocks, we may open to Him immediately.”
May our hearts be free from the weight of worldly attachments, that we may be found without blemish in the hour of our visitation. And may the grace of Paschaltide inflame our lamps with the oil of charity, that we might enter with the Bridegroom when He comes.
Vigilate ergo: quia qua hora non putatis, Filius hominis veniet.
(Watch therefore: for at what hour you think not, the Son of man will come.)