Faithful to the Lord’s covenant and the laws of their fathers, the saints of God persevered in fraternal love because they remained united in one spirit and one faith.

novembro 12, 2024

Faithful to the Lord’s covenant and the laws of their fathers, the saints of God persevered in fraternal love because they remained united in one spirit and one faith.

Josaphat was born in Ukraine in 1580 and died in Belarus in 1623. He was a monk in the Order of Saint Basil the Great and dedicated himself tirelessly to the reform of monasteries. An energetic bishop in the defense of the faith, he worked hard for the unity of the Church, which is why he met martyrdom. Following his example, let us ask for the grace to live the true faith and give our lives in the service of the Kingdom.

First Reading: Titus 2:1-8, 11-14

A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to Titus – Beloved, 1Let your teaching be in accordance with sound doctrine. 2The older ones must be sober, sober-minded, prudent, strong in faith, in love, and in patience. 3 In the same way, older women must live in a holy manner: they must not be slanderers or slaves to wine, but teachers of what is good. 4 They must teach the younger women to love their husbands and to care for their children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be housewives, good to their husbands, and kind, so that no one will malign the word of God. 6 In the same way, encourage the younger men to be self-controlled, 7 showing yourself in all things as an example of good works, of sound doctrine, of sobriety, 8 of sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose us may be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us. 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 instructing us to abandon ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present world, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. 14He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all wickedness, and purify for himself a people fit for his own, who will be devoted to doing good. – The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: 36(37)

The salvation of the righteous comes from God.

1. Trust in the Lord and do good, / and you will dwell in the land in safety. / Delight yourself in the Lord, / and he will give you the desires of your heart. – R.

2. The Lord watches over the lives of the upright, / and their inheritance will last forever. / The steps of the mortals are established by the Lord, / and the paths of those who please him. – R.

3. Turn away from evil and do good, / and you will dwell forever. / The righteous will inherit the new earth, / and they will dwell there forever. – R.

Gospel: Luke 17:7-10

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him (John 14:23). – R.

A reading from the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Luke – At that time, Jesus said: 7“Suppose one of you has a servant who is working the land or tending the animals. Will he say to him when he comes in from the field, ‘Come and sit down to eat’? 8Would he not say to the servant, ‘Prepare my supper, and put on your clothes and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink’? 9Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told? 10So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty’.” – Word of salvation.

Reflection:

In society at all times, the tendency to seek power is common. This danger also haunts the community of Jesus. The apostles were once arguing about who among them was the greatest, the most important, the one who would occupy the first places in the Kingdom of Jesus. The correction came quickly. Jesus teaches them to serve, not to be served. We are servants of God and of our brothers and sisters. Therefore, titles in the Church do not mean a decoration, a prize or an indication of greatness. They mean greater responsibility in leading the people of God. We are at the service of the Kingdom, whose only Lord is God. Before Him, the most correct position is that of Mary: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord” (Lk 1:38). We are nothing more than simple servants of the Kingdom, because “our ability comes from God” (2 Cor 4:7).