Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 474
Reading 1
Ephesians 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. (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.
Alleluia
Luke 21:36
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray
that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Luke 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.”
Reflection 1
Catholic Daily Reflections
Being Vigilant Throughout Life
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.” Luke 12:35–36
What does it mean to “Gird your loins?” This phrase, which is not commonly used today, literally means “tighten your belt.” It traditionally refers to one who is wearing a long robe that makes it difficult to move quickly and easily. Thus, to gird your loins means that you tuck in the long robe and tighten your belt so that you are prepared for some physical activity. It was also commonly used to exhort those preparing for battle to get ready. Symbolically, then, this phrase simply means to be ready for something difficult or challenging. It means to be vigilant and prepared. Spiritually speaking, Jesus is telling His disciples to be ready for the spiritual battle that awaits them.
Jesus then tells His disciples to light their lamps. That phrase could have a variety of meanings, such as “Do not remain in the darkness of sin or ignorance” or “Let the light of charity shine forth as you navigate through life” or “Allow the light of truth to shine within your mind.” Hence, by the light of faith, they are to be prepared and vigilant, ready to do all that the Lord sends them to do.
Today’s Gospel ends by Jesus saying that the disciples will be truly blessed if they remain vigilant even until the second or third watch of the night. Some Church Fathers see this as a reference to three periods in one’s life: childhood being the first watch, middle age being the second, and old age being the third watch.
With these meanings understood, one message we can take from this Gospel is that Jesus is calling us to be vigilant in our faith at every moment of our lives. For those who have lived many years, it may be useful to look back at how faithful you have been throughout every period of your life. God wants to use you in many ways during childhood, through your middle age, and even in old age. The journey of faith must never end. Instead, it must continually deepen as you age. But this will only be possible if you “gird your loins” and “light your lamps.” You must continually be vigilant, continually attentive to the light of faith, and continually be ready to act every time God inspires you to act.
Reflect, today, upon the lifelong journey of faith and service of God to which you are called. Being a Christian is not simply something you are born into. If you were born into the faith, then ponder especially what you have done throughout your life to daily deepen and strengthen that faith. Ponder whether or not you have diligently responded to the countless inspirations of the Holy Spirit to spread the light of faith to others. If you have been truly faithful throughout your life, then give thanks to God and recommit yourself to this fidelity for the rest of your life. If you have lacked faith and vigilant attentiveness to the will of God, then place that in the hands of God’s mercy and resolve from this day forward to do all you can to respond to the will of God the moment God calls.
Reflection 2
By Fr. Martin Hogan
The little parable in this morning’s gospel reading has an unusual image in it. On his return from a wedding feast, the master of the house finds his servants ready to receive him. In response, he sits his servants down at table and, putting on an apron, he serves them. The image of a master serving his servants would have seemed completely incongruous to Jesus’ contemporaries. It simply wasn’t done. Yet, as Isaiah the prophet had said many hundreds of years earlier, ‘God’s ways are not our ways’. Jesus is the one who gives expression to God’s ways, in what he says and what he does. Jesus is declaring that if we remain faithful, if we keep the flame of faith alive in our hearts, then he will serve us in ways that will surprise us. The servants in the parable did not forget their master simply because he was away for a time. They kept him in mind; they were as mindful of him as if he were physically present. In return they experienced his unconventional generosity. If we keep the Lord in mind in all we say and do, even during those times when he seems remote from us, we too will know his loving service.
Reflection 3
By Fr. Miquel VENQUE i To
(Solsona, Lleida, Spain)
Light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding
Today, we must pay our individual attention to Jesus' words: “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” (Lk 12:36). What a joy to realize that, even though unworthy and sinner, it will up to me to open the door for the Lord, when He finally comes! Yes, at the hour of death, I will open the door to Heaven or I will close it; nobody will be doing it on my behalf. “We can be persuaded God will ask us to render accounts not only of our deeds and words, but also of how we have been spending our time” (St. Gregory of Nazianzus).
To be waiting wide-awake at my door for him to arrive is quite simple, and I can certainly do it. I must not be inattentive. To be inattentive is to forget the final purpose, to wish to go to Heaven, but with no operative will; it is like building castles in the air, without having worthy commitments supporting our yearning. To wear your apron means to be in the kitchen, duly prepared for whatever comes. My good father, who was a farmer, used to say that you couldn't sow if the earth was “angry”; for a good sowing you are to actually walk in the fields by caressing the seeds.
Christians are never lost castaways, for they know where they come from, where they are going and how to get there; they know their destination, the means to reach it and the difficulties to be found along the way. To bear all this in mind will help us to be watchful and open the door when our Lord will warn us. Exhortations to vigilance and responsibility are often repeated in Jesus' preaching for two clear reasons: because Jesus loves us and He “watches” over us; he, who loves, does not fall asleep. And, because the devil, our enemy, keeps on tempting us. Thinking of heaven and hell should not detract us from our duties down here, but it is a healthy and incarnated thought, and it deserves the Lord's congratulations: “And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants” (Lk 12:38). O Jesus, help me to be all my life watchful and vigilant and keep loving you.
Prayers
My most merciful Lord, I thank You for the countless ways throughout my life that You have spoken to me, calling me to fulfill my mission of faith and love in this world. I commit to You, this day, to always remain vigilant and attentive to You every time You call. Use me, dear Lord, so that I may bring the light of Your saving Gospel to a world in need. Jesus, I trust in You.
Lord Jesus, you loved me first and you gave your life for me. Fill me with a joyful heart and a generous spirit that is ready to serve and to do whatever you command.
Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy
Reflection 295: The Embrace of the Infant Jesus
It is most appropriate to prayerfully reflect upon being held in the holy arms of our God. Understanding the Merciful love of the Father in Heaven through the holy embrace of love reveals to us His fatherly care. Running to the arms of Jesus opens our hearts to His merciful love. But one image that will also be helpful and holy to reflect upon is that of the infant Jesus. Imagine if you were privileged to be present when Jesus was an infant. And imagine if this infant looked at you, reached out His arms and sought to be held by you. And imagine if this infant held you tightly as He rested on your heart. This holy exchange of love will most certainly be understood by parents as they hold their children. Contemplate the profound love and infinite Mercy of God coming to you through this warm and unconditional embrace of a little child. Jesus is reaching out to you, embrace Him and hold Him tightly (See Diary #1442).
Ponder today this beautiful and holy image. But do so by imagining that this infant burns with a holy and pure love for you and longs to be held close to your heart. Resting in your arms you feel the love of this sweet embrace. This is an image of the Love of God and a holy image. Allow your own experiences of holding a child to teach you about the Mercy of God. And express your own love for God through this holy image of a child’s embrace.
My dear Lord, so small and innocent, may I hold You in my heart with an embrace of pure love. May I feel Your Heart beat with mine and Your love poured forth in this sweet embrace. I thank You, Lord, for coming into our world as an infant. May I always treasure this image and be drawn more deeply into love of You every time I hold one of Your precious children. Jesus, I trust in You.
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