The daily Word of God
Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024
Tuesday in the 29th Week in Ordinary Time. Saint John Paul II, pope
Lk 12:35–38 "Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival."
First Reading: 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.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 85:9ab-10, 11-12, 13-14
R./ 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 Reading: 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."
Dear Friends:
Today’s Gospel invites us to live in a constant attitude of vigilance and preparation, as disciple-missionaries actively awaiting the coming of the Lord. Jesus uses the image of the servants waiting for their master to illustrate how we should be: with our waists girded and our lamps burning, ready to act at any moment.
The key teaching is to always be ready, not only for Jesus’ final return, but also for the times when God calls us in our daily lives. To live on guard means to be alert to the signs of His presence in every circumstance, to be faithful in our responsibilities, and to be open to the Lord’s calls through the people and situations we encounter.
The reward that Jesus promises to those who remain vigilant is astonishing: the Lord himself will gird himself and serve his servants. This image is a profound symbol of the love and humility of God, who not only calls us to be ready, but promises us a reward of immense closeness to Him.
This Gospel motivates us not to live in passivity or comfort, in distraction or superficiality, but in an active and awakened faith. The Christian life is an active waiting, a call to be ready to respond to God’s love in creative fidelity at any moment. To be on guard means to have a constant attitude of prayer, service and availability, because we do not know the day or the hour when the Lord will knock at our door.
Blessed are those who live with an awake heart, attentive to the small calls of each day, because they will receive the greatest reward: the close and loving presence of God, who bends down to serve us and to give us his life.
Edgardo Guzmán, CMF
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
Jesus your Son, has broken down
the barriers dividing peoples and nations,
but why are we still so far apart,
even within our own households?
He has brought us close by his blood,
but why does his one body remain a dream
far removed from reality?
God, let us not be aliens to one another,
bring us together, help us to demolish
the walls of hatred and exploitation,
of distrust and power that divide your people,
that we may be all one
in Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction
We should pay special attention to today's beautiful first reading. Paul speaks directly about the wall of separation between Jews and non-Jews, which Christ has destroyed. All are called to be one in him. In this mission month, we could ask ourselves how many are still outside God's covenant, how many do not yet belong to the one single body of Christ?
General Intercessions
– That Churches that follow Christ as their Lord may always stress more what unites us than what divides us, we pray:
– That all the peoples of the earth may hear where the Lord Jesus can be found and come to know his name and to pray to him, we pray:
– That among the People of God, there may not be aliens and strangers, but only people who are different and yet who accept one another, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God, you bring us together
around a piece of bread
and a cup of wine.
Let this bread and wine come alive,
give us Jesus, your Son
that we may no longer be foreign visitors
of this place and to one another,
but members of your own household,
and citizens of the kingdom
of peace, truth, and justice
of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
however different we are,
whatever separates us here in your Church
and in the world at large,
you have given us the body and blood of your Son
to bring us all together.
Let Jesus be the cornerstone
on which we all build.
Let your Spirit make us the living stones
of the house in which you live
as our God, for ever and ever.
Blessing
We are "all members of the household of God," says Ephesians, not only to Jewish and ex-pagan Christians, but to us all here, however, different we may be in personality, origin, profession, whatever. We are all one in Christ. May we become more one with the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
