＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Ephesians 3:2-12

 You may have heard of the graces God bestowed on me for your sake.

By a revelation he gave me the knowledge of his mysterious design, as I have explained in a few words. On reading them you will have some idea of how I understand the mystery of Christ.

This mystery was not made known to past generations but only now, through revelations given to holy apostles and prophets. Now the non-Jewish people share the Inheritance; in Christ Jesus the non-Jews are incorporated and are to enjoy the Promise.

This is the Good News of which I have become minister by a gift of God, a grace he gave me, when his power worked in me.  This grace was given to me, the least among all the holy ones: to announce to the pagan nations the immeasurable riches of Christ and to make clear to all how the mystery, hidden from the beginning in God, the Creator of all things, is to be fulfilled.

 Even the heavenly forces and powers will now discover through the Church the wisdom of God in its manifold expression, as the plan is being fulfilled which God designed from the begin­­­ning in Christ Jesus, our Lord. In him we re­ceive boldness and confidence to approach God.

 

Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6

You will draw joyfully from the springs of salvation.

 

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊
Luke 12:39-48

Pay attention to this: If the master of the house had known at what time the thief would come, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”

 Peter said, “Lord, did you tell this parable only for us, or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Imagine, then, the wise and faithful steward whom the master sets over his other servants to give them food rations at the proper time. 

Fortunate is this servant if his master on coming home finds him doing his work. Truly, I say to you, the master will put him in charge of all his property.  But it may be that the steward thinks: ‘My Lord delays in coming,’ and he begins to abuse the menservants and the servant girls, eating and drinking and getting drunk.

 Then the master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he doesn’t know. He will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful. 

The servant who knew his mas­ter’s will, but did not prepare to do what his master wanted, will be punished with sound blows; but the one who did what deserved a punishment without know­ing it shall receive fewer blows.

Much will be required of the one who has been given much, and more will be asked of the one entrusted with more.

 

Gospel Reflection：

As members of the household of God we have been blessed with “immeasurable riches!” The Gospel we have received is our inheritance. St. Paul reminds the Ephesians of the great mystery of gentiles (non-Jews) to be beneficiaries of the salvation first promised to the Jews but now by God’s mercy offered to non-Jews.

To the benefit of salvation by grace is attached a responsibility, namely, to be responsible Stewards of the “immeasurable riches of Christ.”Thus, Jesus admonishes his disciples to be wise stewards. Who is the wise steward?

Who is the wise steward? He is the one who awaits conscientiously labors for the Master whose return he awaits. The unfaithful steward, on the other hand, is the abusive one who takes advantage of others and lives as though there would be no reckoning.

Jesus reminds us in the Gospel that there will be a reckoning at the end of time. Lines from the poet Emily Dickenson expresses very well the sobering truth that stewards are accountable. She writes: “The mills of God grind exceeding slow, but they grind exceeding small.”