FIRST READING
“He is our peace, who has made us both one.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians (Ephesians 2 : 12-22)
Brethren: Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojoumers, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 85 :9ab and 10.11-12.13-14 (R. see 9b)
R/. The Lord speaks of peace for his people.
I will hear what the Lord God speaks;
he speaks of peace for his people and his faithful,
His salvation is near for those who fear him,
and his glory will dwell in our land. R.
Merciful love and faithfulness have met;
justice and peace have kissed.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth,
and justice look down from heaven. R.
Also the Lord will bestow his bounty,
and our earth shall yield its increase.
Justice will march before him,
and guide his steps on the way. R.
ALLELUIA Luke 21 :36
Alleluia. Watch at all times, praying that you may be able to stand before the Son of man. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Blessed are those servants whom. the master finds awake when he comes..”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 12:35-38)
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the marriage feast, so that they may open to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will put on his apron and have them sit at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those servants !”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
St Paul tells us in the first reading that through the Holy Spirit, we have been made citizens and vessels of God’s dwelling. It is however imperative for us to have our lamps lit and be at alert as citizens so that when the owner of the vessel comes he will find us awake and worthy. This eschatological tone of the gospel tells us of the urgency of God’s kingdom. Our lighted lamps simply represent a state of righteousness and awareness of the urgency of the coming of the master (God). He may come at any time. and, when he does come, will he find us righteous enough to sit at table with him in the heavenly banquet?