Memory of Jesus crucified

Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

This is the Gospel of the poor,
liberation for the imprisoned,
sight for the blind,
freedom for the oppressed.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Ephesians 4,1-6

I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you therefore to lead a life worthy of the vocation to which you were called. With all humility and gentleness, and with patience, support each other in love. Take every care to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as one hope is the goal of your calling by God. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all, over all, through all and within all.

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The Son of Man came to serve,
whoever wants to be great
should become servant of all.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Chapter four begins the second part of the Letter with a more exhortative character. Paul addresses the Christians of Ephesus passionately connecting God's work to their response: "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling you have been called." He knows that there can be no separation between the vocation they received and the behaviour that they should follow. The authenticity of faith is given by the witness of one's life. As it is for him, an apostle, so it is for every believer. Therefore Paul calls on Christians to live for the edification and growth of the Community in love and unity. Seven times the apostle repeats the numeral adjective "one" emphasizing the unity of the community. The apostle urges Christians to "maintain the unity of the Spirit" with a humble, gentle and patient behaviour. Why do these attitudes have priority? Because the apostle believes that through them unity is preserved. Humility places believers before God as those who expect everything from Him. Gentleness urges them not to respond with violence, and patience makes them similar to God who is patient with everyone. Jesus is the model to look at: he, "gentle and humble in heart" (Mt 11:29), came "to serve, and to give his life" (Mk 10:45) "obedient to the point of death " (Phil 2:8). The apostle asks the Ephesians to "maintain" unity, warning that any wound to the unity of the community is made to the very Body of Christ and thus it becomes a betrayal of our vocation to be one body, have one faith and one baptism, to recognize one God and Father of all. Unity springs from accepting the one Spirit in the hearts of believers. It is given to us when we become children of the Father, and children of the mother, the Church.