October 23, 2012

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Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 474

Reading 1 from St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians

Eph 2:12-22

Brothers and sisters:
You were at that time without Christ,
alienated from the community of Israel
and strangers to the covenants of promise,
without hope and without God in the world.

Brethren, you were at one time Pagans and Gentiles who knew nothing about God the Father or His Son.  Without hope of salvation.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have become near by the Blood of Christ.

For he is our peace, he made both one

But now you are one with us in Christ having been washed in His Blood.

and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his Flesh,
abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims,
that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two,
thus establishing peace,
and might reconcile both with God,

in one Body, through the cross,
putting that enmity to death by it.

For He annulled the Old Covenant and reconciled Gentile and Jew to be at peace in His Body which He sacrificed on the Cross.

He came and preached peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near,
for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

He preached peace to all so that all might come together, in the Spirit of Love, to the Father.

So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.

So now, you have arrived in your house, the house of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, amongst your family, the saints whose spirits have been made perfect:

Hebrews 12:22-24

King James Version (KJV)

²² But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
²³ To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
²⁴ And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

He holds the entire Church together and it continues to grow into a Temple which He sanctifies.  And in Him, you are all joined and become the Temple in which the Spirit of God dwells:

1 Corinthians 3:16

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

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

R. (see 9) The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD--for he proclaims peace.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.

God wants us to be at peace with each other.  If we are at peace with each other, we will be at peace with Him:

Matthew 5:9

King James Version (KJV)

⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke

 Lk 12:35-38

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master's return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.

Suit up and get ready to work.  Be like those servants who are waiting for their Master to come back home, ready to open the door as soon as He knocks.

Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.

If you do this, you will be saved.

Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.

I assure you, the Master will put on His work clothes and tell you to come to His table to eat, that He may serve you:

John 14:23

King James Version (KJV)

²³ Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants."

And if He comes at an unexpected hour and find them prepared to greet Him, they will be saved.

Sincerely,

De Maria