"REMOVE FROM YOUR LIVES THE FILTH AND UNCLEANNESS OF VICE.

YOUR UPRIGHT LIVES MUST MAKE YOU THE SALT OF THE EARTH FOR YOURSELVES

AND FOR THE REST OF HUMANKIND... 

                                   - Saint John of Capistrano

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Ephesians 4:1-6

Therefore,

I, the prisoner of Christ, invite you to live the vocation you have received.

Be humble, kind, patient, and bear with one another in love.

Make every effort to keep among you the unity of spirit through bonds of peace.

Let there be one body and one Spirit, just as one hope is the goal of your calling by God.

One Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God, the Father of all,

who is above all, and works through all, and is in all.

 

Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Luke 12:54-59

Jesus said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, 'A shower is coming';

and so happens. And when the wind blows from the south, you say, 'It will be hot'; and so it is.

You superficial people! You understand the signs of the earth and the sky,

but you don't understand the present times. And why do you not judge for yourselves what is fit?

When you go with your accuser before the court, try to settle the case on the way,

lest he drag you before the judge, and the judge deliver you to the jailer,

and the jailer throw you into prison. I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

The signs brought by Jesus.

Jesus in our Gospel today challenges the superficiality of the crowd.

They know the signs of the earth and sky, yet the crowd fails to see the signs brought by Jesus Christ.

It was the sign of the reign of God that he preached. This is due to their superficiality.

It has prevented them from seeing God's workings deeply in the here and now.

This may resonate with our common experiences of failing to see

 

the wonders that God has done every day. One may be impeded by ingratitude and complaint

from seeing the abundant graces each day. The Kingdom is slowly taking place here and now.

We may find these graces when we look back on our day more closely and with a grateful heart.

We ask the Spirit to guide us in reflecting on our day.