Jesus Christ serves as the foundational source of spiritual and relational unity for believers,

transcending human differences such as race, culture, economic status, and political background.

Christian unity is not about everyone thinking or looking alike,

but about looking in the same direction—toward Jesus Christ and His gospel.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Ephesians 2:12-22

At that time,

You were without Christ, you did not belong to the community of Israel;

the Covenants of God, and his promises, were not for you; you had no hope,

and were without God in this world. But now, in Christ Jesus, and by his blood,

you, who were once far off, have come near. For Christ is our peace;

he, who has made the two people, one; destroying, in his own flesh,

the wall-the hatred-which separated us. He abolished the law,

with its commands and precepts. He made peace, in uniting the two people,

in him; creating, out of the two, one New Man. He destroyed hatred and reconciled us both to God,

through the cross, making the two, one body. He came to proclaim peace;

 

peace to you who were far off, peace to the Jews who were near.

Through him, we the two people-approach the Father, in one Spirit.

Now, you are no longer strangers or guests, but fellow citizens of the holy people:

you are of the household of God. You are the house, whose foundations are the apostles and prophets,

and whose cornerstone is Christ Jesus. In him, the whole structure is joined together,

and rises, to be a holy temple, in the Lord. In him, you, too, are being built, to become the spiritual Sanctuary of God.

 

Ps 85:9ab-10, 11-12, 13-14

The Lord speaks of peace to his people.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Luke 12:35-38

Be ready, dressed for service, and keep your lamps lit,

like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding.

As soon as he comes and knocks, they will open the door to him.

Happy are those servants whom the master finds wide-awake when he comes.

Truly, I tell you, he will put on an apron, and have them sit at table,

and he will wait on them. Happy are those servants,

if he finds them awake when he comes at midnight or daybreak!

 

Gospel Reflection ：

Jesus Christ, the source of unity.

We have known how ancient society was greatly divided by its beliefs. Gentiles and Jews are separated.

There are many differences between these Jews and those who are not Jewish,

whom the Scriptures refer to as Gentiles. However,

this has changed, especially for those who have believed in Christ as the Messiah. enerations.

 

Hence, our belief in Christ should bind us all to unity in him.

Following the example he has shown us a person who loves everyone

and brings sinners and saints alike – it is worth asking how much we have become agents of unity

in our communities or whether we have caused division and indifference among our members.