First reading 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6,9-11
Keep strengthening one another
You will not be expecting us to write anything to you, brothers, about ‘times and seasons’, since you know very well that the Day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night. It is when people are saying, ‘How quiet and peaceful it is’ that the worst suddenly happens, as suddenly as labour pains come on a pregnant woman; and there will be no way for anybody to evade it.
But it is not as if you live in the dark, my brothers, for that Day to overtake you like a thief. No, you are all sons of light and sons of the day: we do not belong to the night or to darkness, so we should not go on sleeping, as everyone else does, but stay wide awake and sober. God never meant us to experience the Retribution, but to win salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that, alive or dead, we should still live united to him. So give encouragement to each other, and keep strengthening one another, as you do already.
Responsorial Psalm 26(27):1,4,13-14
I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.
The Lord is my light and my help;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
before whom shall I shrink?
There is one thing I ask of the Lord,
for this I long,
to live in the house of the Lord,
all the days of my life,
to savour the sweetness of the Lord,
to behold his temple.
I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness
in the land of the living.
Hope in him, hold firm and take heart.
Hope in the Lord!
Gospel Luke 4:31-37
‘I know who you are: the Holy One of God’
Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because he spoke with authority.
In the synagogue there was a man who was possessed by the spirit of an unclean devil, and it shouted at the top of its voice, ‘Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the devil, throwing the man down in front of everyone, went out of him without hurting him at all. Astonishment seized them and they were all saying to one another, ‘What teaching! He gives orders to unclean spirits with authority and power and they come out.’ And reports of him went all through the surrounding countryside.
______________________________________________
Children of light
In the first reading, St Paul reminds the Thessalonians that they are children of light, not darkness. As a result, their lives should reflect this identity. This is also who we are: we are children of light. Therefore, what we do and say each day must flow from who we are for God. In the passage, St Paul states, “So, give encouragement to one another and keep strengthening each other…” These are ways we can live our lives as children of light. Today, let us speak words that uplift others rather than bring them down, and perform acts of love that inspire others to live
with hope and peace.
In today’s gospel, the life of a man with an unclean spirit is transformed by his encounter with Jesus. He experiences the power of Jesus’ Word, which brings the light of freedom into his life. As children of light, we should encounter Jesus daily through prayer, allowing ourselves to experience His love, mercy, and transformation. Through our encounters with Jesus, we can embody His love and shine as a light to others.
Reflective question:
How can I fully embrace the profound truth that I am a child of light and that I am meant to live with purpose?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
