Reading 1 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.
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.
Responsorial Psalm PS 24:1-2, 3-4AB, 5-6
R. (see 6) 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.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
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.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
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.
R. 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.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
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.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
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.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Alleluia SEE MT 11:25
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
“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.”
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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.”
REFLECTION
FREE ONE
"There is but one body and one Spirit." –Ephesians 4:4
One Bread, One Body - Reflection for October 21, 2016
We must "make every effort to preserve the unity which has the Spirit as its origin and peace as its binding force" (Eph 4:3). Without a deep, Trinitarian unity, the world will not have faith that Jesus has been sent by the Father (Jn 17:21). Without faith in Jesus, we will not let Jesus set us free (Jn 8:36). Thus, we will disqualify ourselves from receiving the graces of the Holy Spirit, the essence of which is freedom (Lv 25:10ff). Therefore, we must be one in Jesus to have faith to accept the freedom of the Spirit.
To grow in unity with the Lord and each other:
- Repent and go to Confession, for sin divides God's people.
- Receive the miracle of Trinitarian unity by receiving Holy Communion daily or as often as possible.
- Forgive those who have offended you.
- Apologize to those whom you have offended.
- Be a minister of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18).
- Pray daily for unity (see Jn 17:20-21).
- Share your faith in Jesus.
- Stir into flame the Holy Spirit of unity (2 Tm 1:6-7).
After we accept a new Pentecost of unity, we will have the Holy Spirit's freedom.
| PRAYER: | Father, if necessary, may I die for Your gift of unity to be accepted (see Jn 11:51-52). |
| PROMISE: | "There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, Who is over all, and works through all, and is in all." –Eph 4:5-6 |
| PRAISE: | Helen rejoiced when her husband finally joined her in the Catholic Church and they could receive Jesus together. |
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