Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection October 26, 2024

26th October 2024 (Saturday)

Psalter: Week 1

Readings of the Day

First Reading: Ephesians 4:7-16

Brethren: Grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended”, what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5 (R. see 1)

R/. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

V/. Alleluia

R/. Alleluia

V/. I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.

R/. Alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 13:1-9

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the oth Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vine dresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?” “And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig round it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.”

Daily Gospel Reflection

Saturday – Twenty-Ninth Week of Ordinary Time

Guidelines: God wants us to realise and repent over our sinfulness and fruitlessness. With this turnover, we need to progressively grow and bear abundant fruits

1. God never desires to punish or destroy us. Despite our repeated infidelity and failures, He is enormously patient. He goes on to give opportunities so that we repent. correct and rectify our wrongdoings. This is the right way of growing. In the words of the first reading, it means to grow mature in Christ’s likeness.

2. This requires profound repentance. It is crucial because “Unless you repent, you will all perish.” It implies three aspects: turning away from evil; growing into Christ, to the “measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

3. Some concrete details of repentance are given in the first reading: It is to shun all our wavering and worldliness. We live in such a way that we “may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”

4. On the other hand, positively we need to keep growing in our union with God and with one another. We need to function properly like every part in the body so that the whole body grows. We must guard against our unproductivity.

5. Our life is like a fig tree. We must take care of this fig tree. God provides every help for its growth. We must cooperate with His sincere efforts to make us fertile and fruit-bearing.

Practice: If we do not repent and continue to grow mature in Christic life and not bear fruit, God will ask us for a reckoning. He will cut us down