Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

Today's first reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, continues St. Paul's mystagogical catechesis focusing on how we are united in peace to God in God's household through Christ. The Letter to the Ephesians can be seen as a mystagogical catechesis, because it talks about the mysteries. In many ways, at least some of the sacraments are discussed throughout the text, like baptism, marriage, etc. Of course, the grand mystery St. Paul writes about throughout Ephesians, is the mystery hidden for the ages that now through the Church, Jews and Gentiles have become united in Christ. In today's passage, we see that once we all were strangers divided from God. Through Jesus' sacrifice, and of course through our sacramental incorporation into Jesus' saving mystery, we have become part of God's household, members in God's very family.

In one sense that is the meaning of servanthood as it is explained in today's gospel reading. As members of God's household, the disciples of Jesus are intvited to act responsibly both toward God and toward one another. As Jesus says, "blessed are those servants" (Lk 12:38).

And so, we are members of God's family. Family members are called to help one another in times of need. Let us spend some time today thinking about how we may better live our lives as family members in God's household. Let us examine ourselves to see if we treat one another as family members should treat one another. And let us strive to live lives of peace, the peace that only Christ can bring. Let us pray that we might all be made one. Our citizenship is in Heaven, and it cuts across national boundaries, ethnic distinctions, and is far stronger than any other ties, even than natural family ties. Our unity in God's household is something that we take with us beyond the grave.

- Jeff Morrow