29TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 4 / (Green)
Ps 124:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8
Our help is in the name of the Lord.
1st Reading: Rom 6:12-18
Do not allow sin any control over your mortal bodies; do not submit yourselves to its evil inclinations, and do not give your members over to sin, as instruments to do evil. On the contrary, offer yourselves, as persons returned from death to life, and let the members of your body be as holy instruments, at the service of God. Sin will not lord it over you again, for you are not under the law, but under grace.
I ask again: are we to sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? Certainly not. If you have given yourselves up to someone as his slave, you are to obey the one who commands you, aren‘t you? Now, with sin, you go to death, and by accepting faith, you go the right way. Let us give thanks to God, for, after having sin as your master, you have been given to another, that is, to the doctrine of faith, to which you listen willingly. And being free from sin, you began to serve true righteousness.
Gospel: Lk 12:39-48
Pay attention to this: If the master of the house had known at what time the thief would come, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”
Peter said, ”Lord, did you tell this parable only for us, or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, ”Imagine, then, the wise and faithful steward, whom the master sets over his other servants, to give them wheat at the proper time. Fortunate is this servant if his master, on coming home, finds him doing his work. Truly, I say to you, the master will put him in charge of all his property.
But it may be that the steward thinks, ‘My Lord delays in coming,‘ and he begins to abuse the male servants and the servant girls, eating and drinking and getting drunk. Then the master will come on a day he does not expect, and at an hour he doesn‘t know. He will cut him off, and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful.
The servant who knew his master‘s will, but did not prepare and do what his master wanted, will be soundly beaten; but the one who does unconsciously what deserves punishment, shall receive fewer blows. Much will be required of the one who has been given much, and more will be asked of the one who has been entrusted with more.
REFLECTION:
This gospel account is directed primarily to the church official that serve as ‘stewards‘ whom the Master sets over his other servants, the members of the community of believers. Some of them are wise and faithful but others take on some of the characteristics of the ‘fool.”
As baptized, we, too, become ‘stewards‘ and we share the responsibility of the officials of the community. Just as they were given obligations by virtue of the vows they made, every baptized individual share in their responsibility to perform their duties as Christians. The moment the ministers took the vows and the moment individuals were baptized they are left with an obligation to take good care of their brethren.
How do we become good stewards of Christ daily? The gospel for today provides us a ”formula”: First, know God‘s will; second, act on it unceasingly–this act is tantamount to constant preparation; and third, be mindful that if we have much today (talents, knowledge, properties or time) much is expected from us, so live our life to the full. If we do these, anytime our Lord comes again we have nothing to fear for we are ”prepared” for it.
Daily Reflection
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
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