FIRST READING
We must live godly lives, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to Titus (Titus 2.1-8. 11-14)
Beloved: Teach what befits sound doctrine. Bid the older men be temperate, serious, sensible, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Bid the older women likewise to be reverent in behaviour, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be sensible, chaste, domestic, kind, and submissive to their husbands, that the word of God may not be discredited. Likewise urge the younger men to control themselves. Show yourself in all respects a model of good deeds, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, and sound speech that cannot be censured, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us. For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 37:3-4.18 and 23.27 and 29 (R. 39a)
R/. From the Lord comes the salvation of the just.
Trust in the Lord and do good;
then you will dwell in the land and safely pasture.
Find your delight in the Lord,
who grants your heart’s desire. R/.
The Lord takes note of the days of the blameless;
their heritage will last forever.
By the Lord are the steps made firm
of one in whose path He delights. R/.
R/. From the Lord comes the salvation of the just.
Then turn away from evil and do god,
and you may abide forever.
The just shall inherit the land;
there they shall abide forever. R/.
ALLELUIA John 14:23
Alleluia. If a man loves me, he will keep my word, says the Lord; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“We unworthy servants, we have only done what was our duty.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 17:7- 10)
At that time: Jesus said, “Will any one of you, who has a servant ploughing or keeping sheep, say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and put on your apron and serve me, till I eat and drink; and afterward you shall eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.”’
The Gospel of the Lord.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
In the letter to Titus which is read today, St Paul specifies how believers should live the moral life that is worthy of their Christian calling. It can be rightly called “The code of Christian Conduct” for all (Men and women, old and young). It is a call to live devoutly while waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Along the same line of thought, the gospel reading reminds us of the need to carry out our Christian duties even without being reminded of them. We should not expect to be praised for living our Christian life the way we ought to live it.