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Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 : Ephesians 4:7-16

Brothers and sisters:
Grace was given to each of us
according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
Therefore, it says:

He ascended on high and took prisoners captive;
he gave gifts to men.

What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended
into the lower regions of the earth?
The one who descended is also the one who ascended
far above all the heavens,
that he might fill all things.

And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets,
others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,
to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry,
for building up the Body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of faith
and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood
to the extent of the full stature of Christ,
so that we may no longer be infants,
tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching
arising from human trickery,
from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming.
Rather, living the truth in love,
we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ,
from whom the whole Body,
joined and held together by every supporting ligament,
with the proper functioning of each part,
brings about the Body’s growth and builds itself up in love.

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5

R. (1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Alleluia : Ezekiel 33:11

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord,
but rather in his conversion that he may live.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Luke 13:1-9

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans
whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.
He said to them in reply,
“Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way
they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!
Or those eighteen people who were killed
when the tower at Siloam fell on them–
do you think they were more guilty
than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!”

And he told them this parable:
“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard,
and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none,
he said to the gardener,
‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree
but have found none.
So cut it down.
Why should it exhaust the soil?’
He said to him in reply,
‘Sir, leave it for this year also,
and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it;
it may bear fruit in the future.
If not you can cut it down.’”

 Message from the Readings

Today’s readings proclaim a hopeful and challenging truth:
God gives each of us unique gifts — not for ourselves, but to build up His Church. And He patiently waits for us to bear fruit, calling us to repentance and growth.
• Paul reminds us that unity and maturity come from using our gifts in love.
• The psalm celebrates the joy of belonging to God’s people.
• Jesus calls us to conversion and fruitfulness, warning against spiritual complacency.
The message is clear: You are gifted. You are called. You are expected to bear fruit.

Reflection for the Day

1. “Grace was given to each of us.” (Ephesians 4)
   Paul emphasizes something deeply personal:
   You have a gift. You have a role. You have a purpose in the Body of Christ.
   Your gift may be:
   • teaching,
   • encouraging,
   • serving,
   • leading,
   • praying,
   • creating,
   • comforting,
   • or simply loving faithfully.
   Christ gives gifts not to elevate individuals, but to strengthen the whole Church.
   Maturity comes when we use our gifts in truth and love, helping the Body grow into Christ.
2. “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122)
   The psalm is a song of unity.
   Jerusalem is more than a city — it is a symbol of God’s people gathered as one.
   Unity is not uniformity. It is harmony — different gifts, one purpose; different people, one Lord.
3. “Unless you repent, you will perish.” (Luke 13)
   Jesus rejects the idea that suffering is divine punishment.
   Instead, He turns the focus inward:
   Repent. Turn back to God. Bear fruit.
   The parable of the fig tree is a story of mercy:
   • The tree is barren.
   • The owner wants to cut it down.
   • The gardener asks for more time.
   • He promises to cultivate, nourish, and care for it.
   God is that gardener.
   He gives us time, grace, and opportunity — but He also expects fruit. Living This Word Today
   Today’s readings invite us to three movements:
4. Identify your gift.
   Ask: What has Christ given me to build up His Body?
5. Seek unity.
   Use your gift with humility, love, and cooperation.
6. Bear fruit.
   Let repentance lead to growth, action, and visible transformation.
   Let today be a day of purpose, unity, and spiritual renewal.

Prayer for Today

Lord Jesus, thank You for the grace and gifts You have given me. Help me use them to build up Your Church with love, humility, and faithfulness.
Cultivate my heart like the fig tree, nourish me with Your mercy, and lead me to true repentance so that my life may bear lasting fruit.
Unite Your people in joy, and make us grow together into Your fullness.
Amen.