29th Week in Ordinary Time
25th October 2023 (Wednesday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 1
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Romans 6:12-18
Brethren: Let not sin reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
Psalm 124:1-3, 4-6, 7-8 (R. 8a)
R/. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. Stay awake, and be ready; the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : Luke 12:39-48
At this time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Highlight: Holy slavery!
Guidlines: Disobedience to God and obedience to sin may bring quick results and temporary gains and pleasures but it will lead to eternal ruin{alertSuccess}
1. An interesting contrast is made between the slavery of sin and the slavery of righteousness. Both are slaveries but with a difference. The former is disobedient slavery and the latter is obedient.
2. The result of the slavery of sin is death and damnation. But the result of the slavery of righteousness is life and salvation. In the former, there is only subjugation. In the latter, there is true freedom and rejuvenation of the spirit.
3. If we are obedient slaves of righteousness, then how will we be? The gospel makes this clear through three simple images: householder, steward, and servant. We will be householders alert, watchful and fully prepared to meet any unexpected encounter with the Lord.
4. We will also be like faithful and wise stewards, set over God’s household to “give them their portion of food at the proper time”, that is to take responsible care of the household.
5. We will also be honest and duty-conscious servants. Such head-servants will not let themselves into loose living, ill-treating their fellow servants and not acting according to their master’s will. We will always carry the spirit of accountability, knowing fully well that “to whom much is given, much will be required”.
6. How true it is that many times many fall into the disobedient slavery of sin leading to ruin! How often many fail to be watchful and careful householders! How often many fail to be faithful and wise stewards not responsible toward the household of God entrusted to their care! How often do we fail to prove ourselves as sincere and dutiful servants who are also respectful and benevolent toward our fellow servants?
Practice: The Lord gives a marvellous synthetic image of a householder who has the attitude of a steward and who works and does his duties like a servant. We are caretakers who are to serve God’s household{alertSuccess}