Blessed The Servants Who Are Ready

OCTOBER 19, 2021, Tuesday
Tuesday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)
Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs (Red)
(Opt. Mem) Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest (White)
Lectionary: 474

Reading I
Rom 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21

Brothers and sisters:
Through one man sin entered the world,
and through sin, death,
and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned.
If by that one person’s transgression the many died,
how much more did the grace of God
and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ
overflow for the many.
For if, by the transgression of the one,
death came to reign through that one,
how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace
and the gift of justification
come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, just as through one transgression
condemnation came upon all,
so, through one righteous act
acquittal and life came to all.
For just as through the disobedience of one man
the many were made sinners,
so, through the obedience of the one
the many will be made righteous.
Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more,
so that, as sin reigned in death,
grace also might reign through justification
for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 17

R.    (8a and 9a) Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
    but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sinofferings you sought not;
    then said I, “Behold I come.”

R.    Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
    and your law is within my heart!”

R.    Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
    I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.

R.    Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

May all who seek you
    exult and be glad in you,
And may those who love your salvation
    say ever, “The LORD be glorified.”

R.    Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Alleluia
Lk 21:36

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Be vigilant at all times and pray
that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Lk 12:35-38

Jesus said to his disciples: 
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.”

REFLECTION:

Jesus speaks of his coming as a time of joy and celebration, not of fear and trembling. We only need to be prepared so that when he comes we can open the door to him. Happy those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Lord, help me to live with my lamps lit and ready to welcome you when you come into my life.

PRAYER:

Lord, make me vigilant so that I may recognize your face in my encounters today. As C. S. Lewis says, there are no ordinary mortals in this world. Everyone is an extra-ordinary immortal, destined for eternal joy. Let me be reverent to them all.