Oct 25 2024

First reading Ephesians 4:1-6

One Body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God

I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.

Responsorial Psalm 23(24):1-6

Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The Lord’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the Lord,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Gospel Luke 12:54-59

Do you not know how to interpret these times?

Jesus said to the crowds: ‘When you see a cloud looming up in the west you say at once that rain is coming, and so it does. And when the wind is from the south you say it will be hot, and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the face of the earth and the sky. How is it you do not know how to interpret these times?

‘Why not judge for yourselves what is right? For example: when you go to court with your opponent, try to settle with him on the way, or he may drag you before the judge and the judge hand you over to the bailiff and the bailiff have you thrown into prison. I tell you, you will not get out till you have paid the very last penny.’

___________________________________________

Our vocation is love

“I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you, therefore, to lead a life worthy of the vocation to which you were called. With all humility and gentleness, and with patience, support each other in love” (1st reading). Our life span, no matter how long it may be, is short. St Paul encourages us to live out our calling, to live in accordance with the summons we received from Christ at our baptism. As Christians, we do not live our faith alone. Christianity is not just about attaining perfection or being good enough for God. Our Christian faith does not exist in isolation; it is lived out in community with others. The first community is our family, where we need to exercise love with patience and selflessness.

In the gospel, Jesus urges us to recognise the signs of our time so that we can commit ourselves to living our vocation of love in the environment where we are.

Reflective question:

How can I live today being aware of my vocation?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.