Menu
Brothers and sisters:
Grace was given to each of us
according to the measure of Christ's gift.
Therefore, it says:
He ascended on high and took prisoners captive;
he gave gifts to men.
What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended
into the lower regions of the earth?
The one who descended is also the one who ascended
far above all the heavens,
that he might fill all things.
And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets,
others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,
to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry,
for building up the Body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of faith
and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood
to the extent of the full stature of Christ,
so that we may no longer be infants,
tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching
arising from human trickery,
from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming.
Rather, living the truth in love,
we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ,
from whom the whole Body,
joined and held together by every supporting ligament,
with the proper functioning of each part,
brings about the Body's growth and builds itself up in love.
R./ Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
"We will go up to the house of the Lord."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R./ Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord.
R./ Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R./ Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
One day some persons told Jesus what had occurred in the Temple: Pilate had Galileans killed and their blood mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus replied, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this? I tell you: no. But unless you change your ways, you will all perish as they did.
"And those eighteen persons in Siloah who were crushed when the tower fell, do you think they were more guilty than all the others in Jerusalem? I tell you: no. But unless you change your ways, you will all perish as they did."
And Jesus continued with this story, "A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard and he came looking for fruit on it, but found none. Then he said to the gardener: 'Look here, for three years now I have been looking for figs on this tree and I have found none. Cut it down, why should it use up the ground?' The gardener replied: 'Leave it one more year, so that I may dig around it and add some fertilizer; and perhaps it will bear fruit from now on. But if it doesn't, you can cut it down."
Dear Friends:
Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the call to conversion and the building up of the Body of Christ. In the first reading, Saint Paul reminds us that each of us has received a gift, a special grace, according to the measure of Christ’s gift. This diversity of gifts is not for our personal benefit, but for the building up of the Body of Christ, the Church. Some are called to be apostles, others prophets, evangelists, pastors or teachers, but all contribute to the growth of the body in unity and love.
Paul urges us to mature in our faith, lest we be carried away by “every wind of doctrine” or deceived by the snares of error. Spiritual maturity involves a commitment to truth and love that enables us to grow toward Christ, who is the head. Each member of the body of Christ has a vital role, and when each part acts according to its gift, the body grows in unity and builds itself up in love.
The Gospel complements this message with a clear call to repentance. Jesus uses two recent tragedies-the deaths of the Galileans and the collapse of the Tower of Siloam-to teach that we should not interpret disasters as specific punishments for sins. Rather, these situations call us to personal repentance. We all need to be converted, without thinking that others are more guilty or worse than we are.
The parable of the fig tree is a powerful image of God’s patience and mercy. Although the fig tree has not borne fruit for three years, the vinedresser intercedes to give it another chance. This speaks to us of the time of grace God gives us to repent and bear fruit in our lives. It is not an unlimited time, but it is an invitation to seize the opportunity to transform our lives with the help of his grace before it is too late.
Thus, both readings invite us to act. On the one hand, to recognize and use our gifts to build up the Body of Christ, and on the other, to open our hearts to conversion. God gives us time and opportunities to grow, to change, to bear fruit in love and service. Let us not let this time of grace pass us by. Let us live our Christian vocation with responsibility and love, always ready to convert and grow in our relationship with God, with others and with all creation.
Edgardo Guzmán, CMFLord our God,
it is heartening for us to hear
that whether we are known
and influential in this world or not,
whether our talents are many or few,
we are all important to you
and you need us to build up
the body of your Son.
Thank you for this trust
and make us capable
of building unity and community
through the graces and gifts
with which you enrich us
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
First Reading Introduction
Ephesians says today that each and all of us were given our gifts given for building up the body of Christ. To build community is our task, and each one is important, even though one's role may seem secondary or of little account. Every part adds its own strength. Or do we as joints or parts contribute to the weakness of the whole?
– That our local communities may be deeply aware that they are united in faith and love, in hope and service, with the pope and the worldwide Church, we pray
– That in our Church and in our communities, we may accept one another in all our diversity as the one People of God, we pray:
– That each of us, in his and her place and role, may be deeply aware that each is accepted and needed for the good of the whole body of Christ, we pray:
Lord our God,
this community offers you
in this bread and wine
its desire to be one.
Let this meal unite us even more
and make us the visible sign
of the unity to which you call all your people
under the one head in the one body
of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Lord our God,
it is beautiful to be united here
beyond all our differences
in one faith and one love
around Jesus, your Son.
Let the variety of our potentials
of heart and mind,
of our inclinations and functions,
even our deficiencies,
contribute to the growth in love
of the body of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Like the parts in the body, we must all work beautifully and generously together to build up the body of the Church. If we fail to do this, the Church falls apart. But by working together, we can build up a strong Church in which Christ is alive. May God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
