First reading Ephesians 4:32-5:8
Follow Christ by loving as he loved you
Be friends with one another, and kind, forgiving each other as readily as God forgave you in Christ.
Try, then, to imitate God as children of his that he loves and follow Christ loving as he loved you, giving himself up in our place as a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God. Among you there must be not even a mention of fornication or impurity in any of its forms, or promiscuity: this would hardly become the saints! There must be no coarseness, or salacious talk and jokes – all this is wrong for you; raise your voices in thanksgiving instead. For you can be quite certain that nobody who actually indulges in fornication or impurity or promiscuity – which is worshipping a false god – can inherit anything of the kingdom of God. Do not let anyone deceive you with empty arguments: it is for this loose living that God’s anger comes down on those who rebel against him. Make sure that you are not included with them. You were darkness once, but now you are light in the Lord; be like children of light.
Responsorial Psalm 1:1-4,6
Try to imitate God, as children of his that he loves.
Happy indeed is the man
who follows not the counsel of the wicked;
nor lingers in the way of sinners
nor sits in the company of scorners,
but whose delight is the law of the Lord
and who ponders his law day and night.
He is like a tree that is planted
beside the flowing waters,
that yields its fruit in due season
and whose leaves shall never fade;
and all that he does shall prosper.
Not so are the wicked, not so!
For they like winnowed chaff
shall be driven away by the wind:
for the Lord guards the way of the just
but the way of the wicked leads to doom.
Gospel Luke 13:10-17
Was it not right to untie this woman’s bonds on the sabbath day?
One sabbath day Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who for eighteen years had been possessed by a spirit that left her enfeebled; she was bent double and quite unable to stand upright. When Jesus saw her he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are rid of your infirmity’ and he laid his hands on her. And at once she straightened up, and she glorified God.
But the synagogue official was indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, and he addressed the people present. ‘There are six days’ he said ‘when work is to be done. Come and be healed on one of those days and not on the sabbath.’ But the Lord answered him. ‘Hypocrites!’ he said ‘Is there one of you who does not untie his ox or his donkey from the manger on the sabbath and take it out for watering? And this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has held bound these eighteen years – was it not right to untie her bonds on the sabbath day?’ When he said this, all his adversaries were covered with confusion, and all the people were overjoyed at all the wonders he worked.
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Follow Christ by loving
In the gospel, Jesus healed a woman who has crippled and bent over for many years. Her response was to praise God. The people who
witnessed the healing also rejoiced at the wonder that happened before them. However, the president of the synagogue was indignant because Jesus healed the woman on the Sabbath. Sabbath was not the right time for him to do good and show God’s love. By healing the woman, Jesus revealed that nobody and nothing could limit God’s love and mercy.
witnessed the healing also rejoiced at the wonder that happened before them. However, the president of the synagogue was indignant because Jesus healed the woman on the Sabbath. Sabbath was not the right time for him to do good and show God’s love. By healing the woman, Jesus revealed that nobody and nothing could limit God’s love and mercy.
Jesus today invites us to walk the same path of love as He did. In the first reading, St. Paul said, “Try, then, to imitate God, as children of his that he loves, and follow Christ by loving as he loved you”. Many people are burdened by the weight of their past, fear, resentment, etc., and find it hard to stand straight and live each day without hope. We can follow Jesus by reaching out to them with love and bringing them peace and comfort.
Reflective question:
Which one do I identify with, the Pharisee or the tax collector?
Which one do I identify with, the Pharisee or the tax collector?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD.
