Reading 1
Eph 2:12-22
Brothers and sisters:
You were at that time without Christ,
alienated from the community of Israel
and strangers to the covenants of promise,
without hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have become near by the Blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, he made both one
and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his Flesh,
abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims,
that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two,
thus establishing peace,
and might reconcile both with God,
in one Body, through the cross,
putting that enmity to death by it.
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 sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Ps 85:9ab-10, 11-12, 13-14
Responsorial PsalmR. (see 9)
The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
Gospel
Lk 12:35-38
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.”
Meditation: Luke 12:35-38
“He will … wait on them.” (Luke 12:37)
What a reversal! First, Jesus tells his disciples to be vigilant and to work hard, always ready for his return. But then, he tells them that if he finds them hard at work, he will “have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them” (Luke 12:37). Why such royal treatment? Wouldn’t you expect him instead to acknowledge their dedication, then encourage them to keep up the good work?
What is most amazing in this parable is the image about who it is who will be serving us. It’s Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God! Imagine that he, the Holy One of Israel, the Alpha and the Omega, will become a servant and tend to our needs!
Jesus has already done this. By becoming a man and offering his life for us on the cross, he has already taken the form of a slave. Just as he washed his disciples’ feet at the Last Supper, he has stooped down and washed away all of our sins. Like the father of the prodigal son, he has clothed us in new dignity and set a feast for us—even though we do not deserve it.
This parable tells us what our mission is as well. Surprisingly, it is not to work our fingers to the bone in service. Neither is it to keep busy out of fear that Jesus will return and find us idle. No, our mission is just like Jesus’ mission: to serve one another in love. Just as Jesus was so filled with love for us that he willingly bore our burdens on the cross, so too does God want to fill us with a love that will move us to bear one another’s burdens.
How are you doing at this call to serve? If you’re finding it hard or a drudgery, stop and ask whether you are working to keep busy or whether you are giving to others in response to what you are receiving from Jesus. Let him love and serve you, and you will find yourself loving and serving all the more!
“Thank you, Lord, for loving me out of darkness and into your light. Jesus, give me your heart of service so that I can bring that light to even more people!”
No comments:
Post a Comment