“Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed.” (Hebrews 12:13.)
Origen of Alexandria (part 2 of Pope Benedict’s reflections on Origen) comments on this verse from the First Reading proclaimed at Mass today:
“Nevertheless, since Jesus recites the law to you and reveals to your hearts its spiritual meaning, do not remain “proselytes,” that is, catechumens, any longer, but hurry to receive fully the grace of God. And you “children,” “do not be children in your thinking; be babes in evil, but in thinking be mature.” As the apostle says to the Hebrews, “Let us leave the elementary doctrines of Christ and go on to maturity.” But you, too, who under the title women are weak, cast down and tired, you are exhorted to “lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees.” (Homilies on Joshua)
“The other text comes from the Book of Proverbs: “Make straight paths for your feet” (4:26). It moves us to another domain, that of activity, and thus announces the next part. The context of the Book of Proverbs states that it is a question of being directed toward “right things” (4:25).
The link between the two sentences of this conclusion is perfect, because the first speaks of “hands” and “knees” and the second speaks of “feet”; we are still in the same metaphorical domain. But we are going from the idea of valiantly bearing with affliction to that of aiming activity in the right direction. The same passage from one theme to the other comes in the Letter of James, who, having spoken about affliction and endurance, adds, “But let endurance be accompanied by a perfect work” (1:4).” (Cardinal Albert Vanhoye, The Letter to the Hebrews: A New Commentary. Paulist Press 978-0809149285, page 204.)
Collect
O God, strength of all the saints,
Who through the Cross
were pleased to call the martyrs
Saint Paul Miki and companions to life,
grant, we pray, that by their intercession
we may hold with courage even until death
to the Faith that we profess.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Who through the Cross
were pleased to call the martyrs
Saint Paul Miki and companions to life,
grant, we pray, that by their intercession
we may hold with courage even until death
to the Faith that we profess.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Glory to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen
