Daily Readings - Wed Oct 21 2020
Ephesians
1By reason of this grace, I, Paul, am a prisoner of Jesus Christ, for the sake of you Gentiles2Now certainly, you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God, which has been given to me among you3that, by means of revelation, the mystery was made known to me, just as I have written above in a few words4Yet, by reading this closely, you might be able to understand my prudence in the mystery of Christ5In other generations, this was unknown to the sons of men, even as it has now been revealed to his holy Apostles and Prophets in the Spirit6so that the Gentiles would be co-heirs, and of the same body, and partners together, by his promise in Christ Jesus, through the Gospel7Of this Gospel, I have been made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God, which has been given to me by means of the operation of his virtue8Although I am the least of all the saints, I have been given this grace: to evangelize among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ9and to enlighten everyone concerning the dispensation of the mystery, hidden before the ages in God who created all things10so that the manifold wisdom of God may become well-known to the principalities and powers in the heavens, through the Church11according to that timeless purpose, which he has formed in Christ Jesus our Lord12In him we trust, and so we approach with confidence, through his faith
Luke
39But know this: that if the father of the family knew at what hour the thief would arrive, he would certainly stand watch, and he would not permit his house to be broken into40You also must be prepared. For the Son of man will return at an hour that you will not realize.41Then Peter said to him, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or also to everyone?42So the Lord said: "Who do you think is the faithful and prudent steward, whom his Lord has appointed over his family, in order to give them their measure of wheat in due time43Blessed is that servant if, when his Lord will return, he will find him acting in this manner44Truly I say to you, that he will appoint him over all that he possesses45But if that servant will have said in his heart, ‘My Lord has made a delay in his return,’ and if he has begun to strike the men and women servants, and to eat and drink, and to be inebriated46then the Lord of that servant will return on a day which he hoped not, and at an hour which he knew not. And he will separate him, and he will place his portion with that of the unfaithful47And that servant, who knew the will of his Lord, and who did not prepare and did not act according to his will, will be beaten many times over48Yet he who did not know, and who acted in a way that deserves a beating, will be beaten fewer times. So then, of all to whom much has been given, much will be required. And of those to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be asked
Sermon
In today's readings, we hear from Ephesians and Luke, both emphasizing themes of responsibility and preparedness. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, humbly shares his mission to the Gentiles, highlighting the unity of Jews and Gentiles in Christ. He underscores the mystery of Christ, once hidden but now revealed through the Church, emphasizing his role as a steward of the Gospel. Meanwhile, Luke's Gospel presents a parable about a faithful steward, urging preparedness for the Master's return, with rewards for the diligent and consequences for the negligent.
These readings connect through the theme of stewardship. Paul is a steward of the Gospel, entrusted with spreading its message, while Luke's parable illustrates the servants' responsibility to manage their master's household faithfully. Both emphasize the importance of being prepared and accountable for our actions.
In our daily lives, we are all stewards of the resources and talents entrusted to us. Whether in our careers, families, or communities, we must use these gifts wisely. The readings encourage us to be vigilant and faithful, recognizing that our actions have consequences. Let us embrace our roles with diligence and integrity, striving to be good stewards of all that we have. The moral lesson is clear: our faithfulness and preparedness are not just duties but reflections of our commitment to God.