First reading Ephesians 3:14-21
A prayer that faithful may know the love of Christ
This is what I pray, kneeling before the Father, from whom every family, whether spiritual or natural, takes its name:
Out of his infinite glory, may he give you the power through his Spirit for your hidden self to grow strong, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then, planted in love and built on love, you will with all the saints have strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; until, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond all knowledge, you are filled with the utter fullness of God.
Glory be to him whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine; glory be to him from generation to generation in the Church and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.
Responsorial Psalm 32(33):1-2,4-5,11-12,18-19
The Lord fills the earth with his love.
Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just;
for praise is fitting for loyal hearts.
Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp,
with a ten-stringed lute sing him songs.
For the word of the Lord is faithful
and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right
and fills the earth with his love.
His own designs shall stand for ever,
the plans of his heart from age to age.
They are happy, whose God is the Lord,
the people he has chosen as his own.
The Lord looks on those who revere him,
on those who hope in his love,
to rescue their souls from death,
to keep them alive in famine.
Gospel Luke 12:49-53
How I wish it were blazing already!
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were blazing already! There is a baptism I must still receive, and how great is my distress till it is over!
‘Do you suppose that I am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on a household of five will be divided: three against two and two against three; the father divided against the son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’
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Faithful stewards
In the gospel, Jesus spoke of the faithful steward who did the task that his master had given him. When the master returned from his long trip, the steward was still faithfully working. The keyword that describes the steward is faithfulness.
We are invited to be God’s faithful stewards today, faithful to our calling and mission even in the face of challenges we face in life. As His stewards, we are entrusted to look after God’s household, His family, His people. God’s household includes our family members, friends,
strangers we meet daily, etc. Therefore, let us give of ourselves to others, e.g. our time, talents, strength, creativity, faith, etc., so that they
might grow and be strong in their faith in God. Our faithfulness to God is seen in how much we put ourselves at the loving service of others.
strangers we meet daily, etc. Therefore, let us give of ourselves to others, e.g. our time, talents, strength, creativity, faith, etc., so that they
might grow and be strong in their faith in God. Our faithfulness to God is seen in how much we put ourselves at the loving service of others.
Reflective question:
How can I be God’s faithful steward today?
How can I be God’s faithful steward today?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD.
