29TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
St. John of Capistrano, priest
Psalter: Week 1 / (Green/White)
Ps 85:9ab-10, 11-12, 13-14
The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
1st Reading: Eph 2:12-22
At that time, you were without Christ, you did not belong to the community of Israel; the Covenants of God, and his promises, were not for you; you had no hope, and were without God in this world. But now, in Christ Jesus, and by his blood, you, who were once far off, have come near.
For Christ is our peace; he, who has made the two people one; destroying, in his own flesh, the wall — the hatred — which separated us. He abolished the law, with its commands and precepts. He made peace in uniting the two people in him; creating, out of the two, one New Man. He destroyed hatred and reconciled us both to God, through the cross, making the two, one body.
He came to proclaim peace; peace to you who were far off, peace to the Jews who were near. Through him, we — the two people — approach the Father, in one Spirit.
Now, you are no longer strangers or guests, but fellow citizens of the holy people: you are of the household of God. You are the house, whose foundations are the apostles and prophets, and whose cornerstone is Christ Jesus. In him, the whole structure is joined together, and rises, to be a holy temple, in the Lord. In him, you, too, are being built, to become the spiritual Sanctuary of God.
Gospel: Lk 12:35-38
Be ready, dressed for service, and keep your lamps lit, like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding. As soon as he comes and knocks, they will open the door to him. Happy are those servants whom the master finds wide-awake when he comes. Truly, I tell you, he will put on an apron, and have them sit at table, and he will wait on them. Happy are those servants, if he finds them awake when he comes at midnight or daybreak!
Reflections
The image Jesus uses here is a great wedding feast in which the master honors his guests by seating them in the place of honor and personally waiting on them himself. This parable contains a lesson in faithfulness and a warning against apathy and indifference. Why is faithfulness so important to God? For one, it‘s the foundation for any lasting and meaningful relationship. Faithfulness or creative fidelity allows us to persevere in living out an unswerving commitment. The Lord is committed to us in a bond of unbreakable love and fidelity. That is what covenant means — keeping one‘s word, promise, and commitment no matter how tough or difficult it gets. Fidelity is a key character trait of God and one that he expects of us. God gives us the grace and wisdom to remain and dwell in his love and mercy.
Why is fidelity, commitment, and faithfulness so difficult today? Present day society extols freedom over fidelity and doesn‘t want to be bound to an unknown or uncertain future. It‘s also inconvenient and a burden to be committed. We want to be freed from all burdens and responsibilities. We value independence at all costs.
Faithfulness demands consistency, a determination to stay the course, and do hard work of loving and being merciful. The joy and privilege of being a son or daughter of God carries with it an awesome responsibility of service to others. The Lord expects us to make good use of the gifts and graces he gives to us. The more he gives, the more he requires us to share our time and talent to the poor and the excluded. Our blessings are not simply for our own to enjoy. The temptation while the Master is away is to forget the nature of being given with gifts and blessings. Are you faithful to God and ready to give him an account of your stewardship?
Daily Reflection 2018
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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
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