Thamajoy Reang csc –
Readings: Eph 4: 7 – 16; Lk 13: 1 – 9
In the first reading, we see Paul’s assurance and confidence in the outpouring of the grace of the Lord upon all humankind. He also speaks of the Church as a gift from God, with its members—including apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers—given as gifts to help nurture and uplift the Church to maturity and protect it from false teachings.
The reading calls us to equip the saints for ministry, to build up the body of Christ, to attain unity of faith, to acquire knowledge of Christ, and to reach full maturity as Christians. In a way, this is an invitation for us to be effective missionaries in our time, helping people to come to know the fullness of Christ, especially through the celebration of the sacraments.
In the gospel, we see Jesus speaking about repentance. Jesus communicates to the people, emphasizing that all are called to repentance. The gospel assures us that we are not destined for condemnation if we truly repent of our sins. In the same way, Jesus invites all of us to take the opportunity to repent and to live our lives in union with him.