October 25, 2014

Reading

Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians    4: 7-16

4:7	Yet to each one of us there has been given grace according to the measure allotted by Christ.
4:8	Because of this, he says: “Ascending on high, he took captivity itself captive; he gave gifts to men.”
4:9	Now that he has ascended, what is left except for him also to descended, first to the lower parts of the earth?
4:10	He who descended is the same one who also ascended above all the heavens, so that he might fulfill everything.
4:11	And the same one granted that some would be Apostles, and some Prophets, yet truly others evangelists, and others pastors and teachers,
4:12	for the sake of the perfection of the saints, by the work of the ministry, in the edification of the body of Christ,
4:13	until we all meet in the unity of faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as a perfect man, in the measure of the age of the fullness of Christ.
4:14	So may we then no longer be little children, disturbed and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the wickedness of men, and by the craftiness which deceives unto error.
4:15	Instead, acting according to truth in charity, we should increase in everything, in him who is the head, Christ himself.
4:16	For in him, the whole body is joined closely together, by every underlying joint, through the function allotted to each part, bringing improvement to the body, toward its edification in charity.

Gospel

Luke   13: 1-9

13:1	And there were present, at that very time, some who were reporting about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate mixed with their sacrifices.
13:2	And responding, he said to them: “Do you think that these Galileans must have sinned more than all other Galileans, because they suffered so much?
13:3	No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you will all perish similarly.
13:4	And those eighteen upon whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they also were greater transgressors than all the men living in Jerusalem?
13:5	No, I tell you. But if you do not repent, you will all perish similarly.”
13:6	And he also told this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree, which was planted in his vineyard. And he came seeking fruit on it, but found none.
13:7	Then he said to the cultivator of the vineyard: ‘Behold, for these three years I came seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I have found none. Therefore, cut it down. For why should it even occupy the land?’
13:8	But in response, he said to him: ‘Lord, let it be for this year also, during which time I will dig around it and add fertilizer.
13:9	And, indeed, it should bear fruit. But if not, in the future, you shall cut it down.’ ”