First reading Wisdom 2:23-3:9
The souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God
God made man imperishable,
he made him in the image of his own nature;
it was the devil’s envy that brought death into the world,
as those who are his partners will discover.
But the souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God,
no torment shall ever touch them.
In the eyes of the unwise, they did appear to die,
their going looked like a disaster,
their leaving us, like annihilation;
but they are in peace.
If they experienced punishment as men see it,
their hope was rich with immortality;
slight was their affliction, great will their blessings be.
God has put them to the test
and proved them worthy to be with him;
he has tested them like gold in a furnace,
and accepted them as a holocaust.
When the time comes for his visitation they will shine out;
as sparks run through the stubble, so will they.
They shall judge nations, rule over peoples,
and the Lord will be their king for ever.
They who trust in him will understand the truth,
those who are faithful will live with him in love;
for grace and mercy await those he has chosen.
Responsorial Psalm 33(34):2-3,16-19
I will bless the Lord at all times.
I will bless the Lord at all times,
his praise always on my lips;
in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.
The humble shall hear and be glad.
The Lord turns his face against the wicked
to destroy their remembrance from the earth.
The Lord turns his eyes to the just
and his ears to their appeal.
They call and the Lord hears
and rescues them in all their distress.
The Lord is close to the broken-hearted;
those whose spirit is crushed he will save.
Gospel Luke 17:7-10
You are merely servants
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Which of you, with a servant ploughing or minding sheep, would say to him when he returned from the fields, “Come and have your meal immediately”? Would he not be more likely to say, “Get my supper laid; make yourself tidy and wait on me while I eat and drink. You can eat and drink yourself afterwards”? Must he be grateful to the servant for doing what he was told? So with you: when you have done all you have been told to do, say, “We are merely servants: we have done no more than our duty.”’
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Joy in God
“…But the souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God… they are at peace” (1st reading). Often, we hear this reading in funeral masses. Today, let us find comforting hope that death is a door through which we will one day pass and find ourselves in God’s embrace and there, we find peace.
We can already be with God here and now by living as God wants us to. As His faithful servants, we give ourselves selflessly for the good of those around us without seeking human praises and recognition but finding our reward in God alone. This can be a struggle as we want to be appreciated by others. Today, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, who gave Himself to love and serve others faithfully. Instead of appreciation, they hung Him on the cross. In the end, God did not abandon Him but raised Him to life. Let us walk in the same path of loving service of Jesus. We know that God is generous and will give us more than we have given.
Reflective question:
How can I concretely give myself for the good of someone today?
How can I concretely give myself for the good of someone today?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD.
