First reading Ephesians 2:12-22
In Christ you are no longer aliens, but citizens like us
Do not forget that you had no Christ and were excluded from membership of Israel, aliens with no part in the covenants with their Promise; you were immersed in this world, without hope and without God. But now in Christ Jesus, you that used to be so far apart from us have been brought very close, by the blood of Christ. For he is the peace between us, and has made the two into one and broken down the barrier which used to keep them apart, actually destroying in his own person the hostility caused by the rules and decrees of the Law. This was to create one single New Man in himself out of the two of them and by restoring peace through the cross, to unite them both in a single Body and reconcile them with God: in his own person he killed the hostility. Later he came to bring the good news of peace, peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near at hand. Through him, both of us have in the one Spirit our way to come to the Father.
So you are no longer aliens or foreign visitors: you are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household. You are part of a building that has the apostles and prophets for its foundations, and Christ Jesus himself for its main cornerstone. As every structure is aligned on him, all grow into one holy temple in the Lord; and you too, in him, are being built into a house where God lives, in the Spirit.
Responsorial Psalm 84(85):9-14
The Lord speaks peace to his people.
I will hear what the Lord God has to say,
a voice that speaks of peace.
His help is near for those who fear him
and his glory will dwell in our land.
Mercy and faithfulness have met;
justice and peace have embraced.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth
and justice look down from heaven.
The Lord will make us prosper
and our earth shall yield its fruit.
Justice shall march before him
and peace shall follow his steps.
Gospel Luke 12:35-38
Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘See that you are dressed for action and have your lamps lit. Be like men waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. Happy those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. I tell you solemnly, he will put on an apron, sit them down at table and wait on them. It may be in the second watch he comes, or in the third, but happy those servants if he finds them ready.’
Ready to Serve as God’s Family
In the first reading, St Paul reminds us, “You are no longer aliens or foreign visitors: you are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household.” We are no longer outsiders but members of God’s own family who belong to Him. God does not call us to serve Him from a distance, but invites us as His children into a loving and trusting relationship with Him. With God, we can be confident that we are fully known, loved, and always cared for.
In the Gospel, Jesus calls us, as members of God’s family, to be dressed for action. This means always being ready to seek and do God’s will in our daily lives, keeping our lamps burning through prayer, kindness, and service. The parable offers a surprising promise: when the master finds his servants watchful, he serves them. This reveals who God is: He comes not to be served but to serve, by showing us His constant love, often through the people around us. Having experienced His love, we are called to follow His example to serve others with humility.
Reflective question:
How can I keep my lamp burning today through prayer and acts of humble service to others around me?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
