In today’s short Gospel excerpt, Jesus speaks of the need for vigilance with an urgency that is readily evident. We can feel a sense of foreboding in His words if we fail to heed His cautionary prompt. As with Paul’s letter, we can perceive the contrast in remaining outside of Christ’s redemption with being drawn by Him into the fold. The seriousness with which we need to approach our Faith and recovery is very clear. The rooms of recovery and the relationships we foster within the fellowship of our 12-step groups help us heed the warning Jesus gives to remain vigilant. We avoid people, places, and things, a day at a time, to make progress in the Steps so that we can be of service to others. We share the immediate details of the circumstances and associated emotions of both the mundane and the consequential events of our lives. Living each day, to the best of our ability, with a purposefulness and commitment to our Catholic faith and our 12-step work keeps us in the moment and “at the ready” to be available for whatever God is calling upon us to do.  If we are sincerely seeking to live a program of rigorous honesty, we can rest assured that we will be ready to heed His call.

Reflection Questions

• How does the need for vigilance manifest in your daily recovery journey, and what are the tools you use to combat detractors and temptations?
• How can you bolster your participation in the 12-step fellowship, and are you being called to attend more meetings and/or provide service to your fellows?

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: Ephesians 2:12-22
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 85:9AB-10, 11-12, 13-14
Gospel: Luke 12:35-38

Reflection by Mark L.