Daily Readings - Sat Oct 21 2017

First Reading - Romans 4.13, 16-18

¹³For the Promise to Abraham, and to his posterity, that he would inherit the world, was not through the law, but through the justice of faith¹⁶Because of this, it is from faith according to grace that the Promise is ensured for all posterity, not only for those who are of the law, but also for those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all before God¹⁷in whom he believed, who revives the dead and who calls those things that do not exist into existence. For it is written: "I have established you as the father of many nations.¹⁸And he believed, with a hope beyond hope, so that he might become the father of many nations, according to what was said to him: "So shall your posterity be.

Gospel - Luke 12.8-12

Luke

Chapter 12

⁸But I say to you: Everyone who will have confessed me before men, the Son of man will also confess him before the Angels of God⁹But everyone who will have denied me before men, he will be denied before the Angels of God¹⁰And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven of him. But of him who will have blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven¹¹And when they will lead you to the synagogues, and to magistrates and authorities, do not choose to be worried about how or what you will answer, or about what you might say¹²For the Holy Spirit will teach you, in the same hour, what you must say.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of faith and trust in our relationship with God. In the first reading from Romans, Paul emphasizes that Abraham's faith, not the law, was the foundation of the promise he received from God. This promise extends to all who share Abraham's faith, making us part of a larger family through grace. The context of this passage is Paul's discussion on the relationship between faith and the law, highlighting that faith is the cornerstone of our inheritance in God's plan. The Gospel from Luke complements this message by focusing on the importance of confessing Jesus before others and trusting in the Holy Spirit during trials. Jesus teaches that our acknowledgment of him will be acknowledged by him in heaven, while denial will lead to separation. The context here is Jesus preparing his disciples for the challenges they will face, reassuring them that the Holy Spirit will guide their words and actions. Together, these readings underscore the dual aspects of faith: as the foundation of our relationship with God and as the active trust we need in daily life. In our daily lives, these teachings encourage us to embrace faith as both a belief and a practice. Like Abraham, we are called to trust in God's promises, even when circumstances seem uncertain. Similarly, we are urged to be bold in our confession of Jesus, trusting that the Holy Spirit will empower us in moments of challenge. The moral lesson here is clear: faith is not passive but an active trust that shapes our actions and decisions, leading us to a deeper and more authentic relationship with God.