Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 23, 2018

First Reading: Ephesians 2.12-22

¹²and that you were, in that time, without Christ, being foreign to the way of life of Israel, being visitors to the testament, having no hope of the promise, and being without God in this world¹³But now, in Christ Jesus, you, who were in times past far away, have been brought near by the blood of Christ¹⁴For he is our peace. He made the two into one, by dissolving the intermediate wall of separation, of opposition, by his flesh¹⁵emptying the law of commandments by decree, so that he might join these two, in himself, into one new man, making peac¹⁶and reconciling both to God, in one body, through the cross, destroying this opposition in himself¹⁷And upon arriving, he evangelized peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near¹⁸For by him, we both have access, in the one Spirit, to the Father¹⁹Now, therefore, you are no longer visitors and new arrivals. Instead, you are citizens among the saints in the household of God²⁰having been built upon the foundation of the Apostles and of the Prophets, with Jesus Christ himself as the preeminent cornerstone²¹In him, all that has been built is framed together, rising up into a holy temple in the Lord²²In him, you also have been built together into a habitation of God in the Spirit

Psalm 85

Psalms

Chapter 85

¹Unto the end. A Psalm to the sons of Korah. O Lord, you have blessed your land. You have turned aside the captivity of Jacob²You have released the iniquity of your people. You have covered all their sins³You have mitigated all your wrath. You have turned aside from the wrath of your indignation⁴Convert us, O God, our Savior, and turn your anger away from us⁵Will you be angry with us forever? And will you extend your wrath from generation to generation⁶O God, you will turn back and revive us. And your people will rejoice in you⁷O Lord, reveal to us your mercy, and grant to us your salvation⁸I will listen to what the Lord God may be saying to me. For he will speak peace to his people, and to his saints, and to those who are being converted to the heart⁹So then, truly his salvation is near to those who fear him, so that glory may inhabit our land¹⁰Mercy and truth have met each other. Justice and peace have kissed¹¹Truth has risen from the earth, and justice has gazed down from heaven¹²For so will the Lord give goodness, and our earth will give her fruit¹³Justice will walk before him, and he will set his steps upon the way

Gospel: Luke 12.35-38

Luke

Chapter 12

³⁵Let your waists be girded, and let lamps be burning in your hands³⁶And let you yourselves be like men awaiting their lord, when he will return from the wedding; so that, when he arrives and knocks, they may open to him promptly³⁷Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, when he returns, will find being vigilant. Amen I say to you, that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, while he, continuing on, will minister to them³⁸And if he will return in the second watch, or if in the third watch, and if he will find them to be so: then blessed are those servants

Sermon

The readings today remind us of the profound unity and purpose that Christ brings into our lives. In the first reading from Ephesians, St. Paul speaks of a time when Gentiles were far from God, without hope or a covenant. But through Christ, this division was bridged, and all people—Jews and Gentiles alike—were united into one body. Christ’s sacrifice destroyed the walls of hostility and made us citizens of God’s household, built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone. This passage emphasizes that our faith is not just individual but communal; we are part of a living temple where God dwells. In the Gospel, Luke presents a parable about vigilant servants waiting for their master’s return. Jesus urges us to be prepared, with our “lamps burning” and our “waists girded,” ready to open the door promptly when he comes. The servants who are found watchful and faithful are blessed, and the master himself will serve them. This teaching calls us to live with a sense of expectation and readiness, not out of fear, but out of love and fidelity. It reminds us that our lives are not our own; we are called to be attentive and faithful stewards of the gifts and responsibilities God has entrusted to us. These readings are deeply connected. The unity and peace Christ brings, as described in Ephesians, are the foundation for the vigilant and purposeful living encouraged in Luke. To live as children of God, united in Christ, means embracing a life of readiness and service. We are called to be alert to God’s presence in our lives and to use our time and talents wisely, knowing that we are part of a larger household. May we strive to live with gratitude for the unity Christ has given us and with the faithfulness and vigilance that reflects our hope in him.