October 26th, 2018

Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

LECTIONARY
477

FIRST READING
EPH 4:1-6

Brothers and sisters:
I, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the spirit
through the bond of peace;
one Body and one Spirit,
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.

PSALM
PS 24:1-2, 3-4AB, 5-6

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

The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.

Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.

He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.

GOSPEL
LK 12:54-59

Jesus said to the crowds,
“When you see a cloud rising in the west
you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does;
and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south
you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is.
You hypocrites!
You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky;
why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate,
make an effort to settle the matter on the way;
otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge,
and the judge hand you over to the constable,
and the constable throw you into prison.
I say to you, you will not be released
until you have paid the last penny.”

Daily Reflection

26th October 2018

Paul pleads with the Ephesians to lead a life worthy of their vocation, which among other things, consists in “preserving the unity of the Spirit”. This unity must be fostered by “bearing with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience”. Although this may seem difficult, Paul highlights that this is made possible when we realign our focus to our calling through our Baptism. He mentions the word “one” seven times in a sentence to lay stress on the unifying effect of Baptism – one Body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism and one God and Father!

Jesus points out that just as we anticipate the change in season by recognising the signs in nature and make adjustments accordingly, so too, must we deal with others, by recognising the unifying Spirit of our Baptism within us.