Romans 5:12, 15, 17-21 / Luke 12:35-38
No matter how sinful, or wicked, or evil the world may be, there is one thing for certain.
Because no matter what, evil can never be greater than the good that God has created the world with.
In other words, the world and all its goodness belong to God and evil can never overcome good.
The 1st reading acknowledges that sin entered the world through one man, and through sin, death, and thus death has spread through the whole human race because everyone has sinned.
But the 1st reading also says this: But however great the number of sins committed, grace was even greater. And so, just as sin reigned whenever there was death, so grace will reign to bring eternal life.
In other words, the grace of God is much greater than the sin of man.
And that grace of God was expressed in its fullness in Jesus Christ our Lord, who came into the world to save us from our sins.
But the salvation that Jesus Christ is offering also needs a response from us sinners.
We respond by turning away from sin and, as Jesus says in the gospel, to be dressed for action and have our lamps lit.
When we are tempted to sin, let us also know that Jesus is knocking at the door of our hearts.
Let us be awake and listen to the knock of His voice and we will see the power of God’s saving love for us.