Reading 1
Eph 1:15-23
Brothers and sisters:
Hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus
and of your love for all the holy ones,
I do not cease giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation
resulting in knowledge of him.
May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,
what are the riches of glory
in his inheritance among the holy ones,
and what is the surpassing greatness of his power
for us who believe,
in accord with the exercise of his great might,
which he worked in Christ,
raising him from the dead
and seating him at his right hand in the heavens,
far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion,
and every name that is named
not only in this age but also in the one to come.
And he put all things beneath his feet
and gave him as head over all things to the Church,
which is his Body,
the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
Ps 8:2-3ab, 4-5, 6-7
Responsorial PsalmR. (7)
You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
O LORD, our LORD,
how glorious is your name over all the earth!
You have exalted your majesty above the heavens.
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings
you have fashioned praise because of your foes.
R. You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars which you set in place—
What is man that you should be mindful of him,
or the son of man that you should care for him?
R. You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
You have made him little less than the angels,
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
putting all things under his feet.
R. You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
Gospel
Lk 12:8-12
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you,
everyone who acknowledges me before others
the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.
But whoever denies me before others
will be denied before the angels of God.
“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven,
but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
will not be forgiven.
When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities,
do not worry about how or what your defense will be
or about what you are to say.
For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”
Meditation: Ephesians 1:15-23
“May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened.” (Ephesians 1:18)
St. Paul, what a fantastic vision you had! The scope of your prayer for those who had come to believe through your message—the scope of your prayer for me—is breathtaking. Sit beside me today as I try to “unpack” your prayer with the “eyes of my heart.” I don’t want to just repeat someone else’s words. I want the Holy Spirit to fill me up and pray through me. Holy Spirit, help me to be open to your inspiration, even if it takes me to unfamiliar places.
God of our Lord Jesus Christ, Father of glory, all I am and all I have comes from you. Having come into this holy place, I yield myself to you. With a deep breath, I will welcome your Spirit and release the anxieties that weigh me down. I give back to you the mind you have given me. Empty it of useless information, Father, and fill it with the only knowledge that matters: personal acquaintance with you.
Father, I offer you my imagination. Grant me the vision of your glory. Enable me to penetrate beyond appearances and gaze with awe upon the riches of your glorious inheritance in the saints, especially the saints who come to the table with me day by day.
Father, I offer you my emotions, so often caught up in immediate events, so seldom stirred by your nearness. I want to feel what you feel as you embrace this wounded world to redeem and transform it into the fullness of your kingdom.
Lord Jesus, help me to grasp the great reality that the very same power that raised you from the dead and placed you at God’s right hand is at work in me right now! Help me see that the hope to which you have called me is not just wishful thinking but something firm, substantial, and eternal.
Spirit of revelation, gracious gift of the Father and the Son, you don’t just touch me now and then. You dwell in me always, just as you dwell in your church. As Jesus promised, let your word spring fearlessly to my lips every time I have the opportunity to acknowledge Jesus to those around me.
“Holy God—Father, Son, and Spirit—let me never cease giving thanks to you for your immeasurable power and unfathomable love brought so near to me.”
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