The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today declare the invitation from Our Father to honour our inheritance and accept the invitation to seek our Spiritual Home.
Lead Us Home
The Reading from the Letter to the Ephesians proclaims Our Inheritance through the Spirit.
* [1:12] We who first hoped: probably Jewish Christians (contrast Eph 1:13, you, the Gentiles); possibly the people of Israel, “we who already enjoyed the hope of Christ,” or perhaps present hope in contrast to future redemption (cf. Eph 1:14).
* [1:13] Sealed: by God, in baptism; cf. Eph 4:30; 2 Cor 1:22.
* [1:14] First installment: down payment by God on full salvation, as at 2 Cor 1:22. (Ephesians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 33 invites the just to praise God.
* [Psalm 33] A hymn in which the just are invited (Ps 33:1–3) to praise God, who by a mere word (Ps 33:4–5) created the three-tiered universe of the heavens, the cosmic waters, and the earth (Ps 33:6–9). Human words, in contrast, effect nothing (Ps 33:10–11). The greatness of human beings consists in God’s choosing them as a special people and their faithful response (Ps 33:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 33 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke proclaims the Leaven of the Pharisees and urges Courage Under Persecution.
* [12:1] See notes on Mk 8:15 and Mt 16:5–12.
* [12:2–9] Luke presents a collection of sayings of Jesus exhorting his followers to acknowledge him and his mission fearlessly and assuring them of God’s protection even in times of persecution. They are paralleled in Mt 10:26–33. (Luke, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)
Greg Dyche asks “Can I honestly receive what is being taught today?”
I read a book on riding bikes off road, on the trail. The key is to focus on the path, not the stone in the path. You go where you look.
Jesus is telling me where to look. Don’t be afraid of the stone, my fear of others judgement and harm. Be afraid of the path. Focus on what truly matters.
Jesus sees I am afraid, focused on the perishable judgement of others, and He calls me friend. He offers advice I can live by.
Be afraid, focus on the one who knows every secret told in the dark, counts every hair on my head, and doesn’t allow a sparrow to go unnoticed. “Fear not, for I am with you.” (Isaiah 41:10) (Dyche, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Comfort for those who doubt God's providence in Christ,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"To bestow yet another means of comfort on our minds, he forcibly added that five sparrows are scarcely perhaps worth a penny, and yet God does not forget even one of them. He also said that the separate hairs of your head are all numbered. Consider how great care he takes of those that love him. The Preserver of the universe extends his aid to things so worthless and descends to the smallest animals. How can he forget those who love him, especially when he takes so great care of them? He condescends to visit them, to know exactly each particular of their state, and even how many are the hairs of their heads... Let us not doubt that with a rich hand he will give his grace to those who love him. He will not permit us to fall into temptation. If, by his wise purpose he permits us to be taken in the snare in order that we may gain glory by suffering, he will most assuredly grant us the power to bear it." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 87) (Schwager, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the message by the author of Ephesians that God deems us chosen ones, a Gentile audience. They have been invited into the gift of the Holy Spirit. They and we are called to live in the love between Father and the Son for all eternity and to feel the Love of God in us. Jesus condemns hypocrisy in the Pharisees. All things will be revealed as we become One with God. We will know, if we truly give witness, God is with us. The Ghenna Valley, outside of Jerusalem, a garbage dump for the Temple is a vivid description of the fate of those who reject God. Friar Jude underlines the promise that God cares for us more than sparrows or the hairs of our head. His Son dies for us. How can He turn His back on us?
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 12:1-7 comments that Isn’t it great news that the deepest longing of our hearts—the longing to be loved and accepted and cherished—finds its true fulfillment in the love of the Lord? We don’t have to go looking everywhere for this love; it’s already in us through the Holy Spirit.
We don’t have to worry that we’re not deserving of love; God has already declared that we are. And we don’t have to fear that this love will fizzle out; it flows continually from the heart of the One who promised to be with us “always” (Matthew 28:20).
As you begin your prayer today, listen as the Lord tells you, “You are worth more than many sparrows” (Luke 12:7)! Then lift your eyes to heaven, and praise him for loving you so deeply.
“Heavenly Father, I am in awe of you!” (Meditation on Luke 12:1-7, n.d.)
Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Historian Diana Butler Bass who emphasizes the importance of “home” in Scripture and different faith traditions. Home is a central theme in the world’s great religions: Jews seeking a homeland with God; Christian proclaiming that God dwells within our hearts; Muslims facing home to pray; Buddhists find a true home in enlightenment…. Human beings build temples to shelter God’s presence, we mark sacred places with shrines, and we bury, float, or burn our dead that they might find their way home to God.
Specific stories also relate tales of us, home, and God. Perhaps none does so more beautifully than the book of Ruth. Ruth, a Moabite woman married to a Jew, is widowed. Instead of staying in her own homeland after her husband’s death, she pleads with her mother-in-law, Naomi, to be allowed to accompany her to Israel to find a new home:
Where you go, I will go;
where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people,
and your God my God.
Where you die, I will die—
there will I be buried (Ruth 1:16–17)
Home is the relationship between two people, a physical place, and God. This is sacred dwelling. [1] (Rohr, n.d.)
We invoke the Spirit as we ponder “Our Home is with God” and the consequences of this to our piety, study, and action as we journey on the Way.
References
Dyche, G. (n.d.). Daily Reflection October 16, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-october-16-2026
Ephesians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Reflections. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/1?11
Luke, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/12?1
Meditation on Luke 12:1-7. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/10/16/1694585/
Psalms, PSALM 33 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/33?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). God Is Our Home. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/god-is-our-home/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Do Not Fear Those Who Kill the Body. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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