As the Church’s liturgical calendar moves deeper into the week following the Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, the readings for Feria Tertia bring us to ponder the beauty of God’s providence in raising up holy men and women to guide His people. The two passages—Ecclus 45:1–6 and Matt 19:27–29—complement one another, revealing the continuity of God’s salvific plan through His saints and the eternal reward promised to those who follow Christ.
The Radiance of Holiness in Leadership: Ecclus 45:1–6
The reading from Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) celebrates the figure of Moses, chosen by God to lead His people and endowed with wisdom, glory, and the grace to mediate the covenant. “He was beloved of God and men: whose memory is in benediction” (Ecclus 45:1). This description reminds us that the saints are not only God’s instruments but also shining examples for the faithful. Moses was granted a special intimacy with God—speaking with Him face to face and receiving the divine law for Israel.
The Church Fathers often reflect on Moses as a prefiguration of Christ. St. Gregory of Nyssa writes, “In Moses we see the lawgiver who, ascending the mountain of God, brings down to the people the commandments of life. Yet Moses himself points forward to the true Mediator, who will fulfill the law in His very person.” The virtues of Moses—his humility, perseverance, and faithfulness—foreshadow the perfect holiness of Christ.
Further, the phrase “His memory is in benediction” underscores the Church’s tradition of honoring the saints. St. Augustine remarks that the lives of holy men serve as “visible testimonies of the invisible God, stirring the faithful to emulate their virtues.” Thus, as we contemplate Moses in this passage, we are encouraged to seek sanctity in our own state of life, trusting that God will supply the graces necessary to fulfill our mission.
The Promise of a Hundredfold: Matt 19:27–29
In the Gospel, St. Peter asks Jesus what reward will come to those who have left everything to follow Him. Christ’s response is breathtaking in its scope: “And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting” (Matt 19:29).
The Fathers see in this passage both a challenge and a consolation. St. John Chrysostom emphasizes the radical nature of Christian discipleship: “To leave all is not a small thing, but it is to renounce what is often most dear. Yet Christ promises a reward not only in the next life but even in this one, as the Church becomes the family of those who follow Him.”
The hundredfold reward signifies the abundance of grace poured out on those who live for Christ. St. Jerome interprets the promise not in terms of material gain but in the spiritual riches of the Christian community: “He who leaves worldly ties will gain spiritual brethren in the Church and the joy of a greater communion in the Spirit.” The ultimate reward, however, remains eternal life—the beatific vision of God.
A Synthesis: The Saints as Guides to Eternal Life
Together, these readings urge us to contemplate the legacy of the saints as leaders, intercessors, and exemplars of fidelity to God. Moses, as the mediator of the Old Covenant, reminds us of the necessity of grace and the call to holiness. The Apostles, as witnesses to Christ’s life and resurrection, embody the total surrender that leads to eternal life.
On this day in the liturgical calendar, we recall how the lives of the saints—both Old Testament patriarchs and the Apostles—form a single tapestry of salvation. As St. Bede writes, “The Church is the culmination of the patriarchs’ longing and the Apostles’ mission, united across time by the same hope of heavenly glory.”
Application for the Faithful
The challenge for us, then, is twofold: to recognize and honor the saints’ role in salvation history and to live with the same totality of trust in God’s promises. Let us ask for the intercession of St. Moses, the Apostles, and all the saints that we may imitate their faith, hope, and love.
As we meditate on these texts, let us reflect on Christ’s words to His disciples: “He that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved” (Matt 24:13). Through perseverance in our daily sacrifices and fidelity to our vocation, we too may hope to join the blessed company of saints and receive the hundredfold reward in the heavenly kingdom.
Prayer:
O God, who didst raise up Moses to lead Thy people and call the Apostles to follow Thy Son, grant us the grace to live as faithful servants of Thy will. May we, forsaking all for the sake of Christ, attain the reward of eternal life through His merits and intercession. Amen.