St. Isaac Jogues / John de Brebeuf, 

priest & martyr & Companions, martyrs

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊   

Romans 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21

 Therefore, sin entered the world

Through one man and through sin, death, and later on death spread to all humankind, because all sinned. Such has been the fall, but God’s gift goes far beyond. All died because of the fault of one man, but how much more does the grace of God spread when the gift he granted reaches all, from this unique man Jesus Christ.

 If death reigned through the disobedience of one and only one person, how much more will there be a reign of life for those who receive the grace and the gift of true righteousness through the one person, Jesus Christ.

 Just as one transgression brought sentence of death to all, so, too, one man’s good act has brought justification and light to all; and as the disobedience of only one made all sinners, so the obedience of one person allowed all to be made just and holy.

 The Law itself, introduced later on, caused sin to increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, and as sin caused death to reign, so grace will reign in its own time, and after making us just and friends of God, will bring us to eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

 

Ps 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 17

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

 

＊＊＊＊ 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 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：

Our attitude towards the Lord’s second coming depends on our response to His first coming. For those who eagerly await our Lord’s return are those who have eagerly accepted His first coming.

Those who did not receive Jesus as the Messiah, will surely not look toward His return as a welcome event. They have not readied themselves for such an event. That is why they fear when that time comes.

This therefore leads us to question ourselves, “Have we welcomed Christ as God’s Sin-bearer and our Savior? Have we received His free gift of salvation? If not, because our faith is only something we have passively accepted, then we have time to catch up.

There is always time for those who are willing to change and repent. The decision is ours whether we want to be dressed and ready for His second coming.