FIRST READING
“Walk in love, as Christ loved us.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians (Ephesians 4: 32-5 :8)
Brethren: Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is fitting among saints. Let there be no filthiness, nor silly talk, nor levity, which are not fitting; but instead let there be thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure man, or one who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with them, for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 1:1-2.3.4 and 6 (R. see Eph 5:1)
R/. Let us be imitators of God, as beloved children.
Blessed indeed is the man
who follows not the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the path with sinners,
nor abides in the company of scorners,
but whose delight is the law of the Lord,
and who ponders his law day and night. R/.
He is like a tree that is planted
beside the flowing waters,
that yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves shall never fade;
and all that he does shall prosper. R/.
R/. Let us be imitators of God, as beloved children.
Not so are the wicked, not so!
For they, like winnowed chaff,
shall be driven away by the wind.
For the Lord knows the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked will perish. R/.
ALLELUIA John 17:17ba
Alleluia. Your word, O Lord, is truth; sanctify us in the truth. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Ought not this daughter of Abraham be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? ”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 13:10-17)
At that time: Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.” Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?” As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
Jealousy can really blind us both spiritually and physically. This is the case of the synagogue official who saw the glory of God at work but refused to acknowledge it and glorify God because he was full of himself, perhaps because of his mastery of the law. Jesus shows us, through his actions and words, why we should do good at all times, reach out in love, compassion and kindness to the needy, to follow the spirit of the law, and not to be blind to the needs of our neighbour. We shall never treat with disdain the effects of the work of God in others, but rather, glorify God in his might and glory.