Daily Readings - Fri Oct 12 2018
Galatians
6It is just as it was written: "Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.7Therefore, know that those who are of faith, these are the sons of Abraham8Thus Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, foretold to Abraham: "All nations shall be blessed in you.9And so, those who are of faith shall be blessed with faithful Abraham10For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it has been written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all the things that have been written in the book of the Law, so as to do them.11And, since in the law no one is justified with God, this is manifest: "For the just man lives by faith.12But the law is not of faith; instead, "he who does these things shall live by them.13Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, since he became a curse for us. For it is written: "Cursed is anyone who hangs from a tree.14This was so that the blessing of Abraham might reach the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, in order that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith
Luke
15But some of them said, "It is by Beelzebub, the leader of demons, that he casts out demons.16And others, testing him, required a sign from heaven of him17But when he perceived their thoughts, he said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself will become desolate, and house will fall upon house18So then, if Satan is also divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebub that I cast out demons19But if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your own sons cast them out? Therefore, they shall be your judges20Moreover, if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then certainly the kingdom of God has overtaken you21When a strong armed man guards his entrance, the things that he possesses are at peace22But if a stronger one, overwhelming him, has defeated him, he will take away all his weapons, in which he trusted, and he will distribute his spoils23Whoever is not with me, is against me. And whoever does not gather with me, scatters24When an unclean spirit has departed from a man, he walks through waterless places, seeking rest. And not finding any, he says: ‘I will return to my house, from which I departed.25And when he has arrived, he finds it swept clean and decorated26Then he goes, and he takes in seven other spirits with him, more wicked than himself, and they enter and live there. And so, the end of that man is made worse than the beginning.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound truths about faith, grace, and the spiritual battle that defines our lives as followers of Christ. The first reading from Galatians reminds us that faith, not works of the law, is the foundation of our relationship with God. Abraham, the father of faith, trusted in God’s promise, and this trust was reckoned to him as righteousness. Paul emphasizes that we, too, are children of Abraham by faith, and through Christ, we inherit the blessings promised to Abraham. The law, while good, cannot justify us because it is not based on faith. Christ, however, has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, so that we might receive the Spirit and live by faith.
The Gospel from Luke presents a complementary yet challenging message. Jesus, in response to accusations that He casts out demons by the power of Beelzebub, teaches us about the nature of God’s kingdom and the reality of spiritual warfare. He warns that a house divided against itself cannot stand, and if Satan were to fight against himself, his kingdom would collapse. Jesus then turns the tables on His accusers, pointing out that if His power comes from God, then the kingdom of God is already at work among them. He also warns about the danger of spiritual complacency, using the parable of the unclean spirit that returns to a soul that has been swept clean but not filled with the Holy Spirit. This spirit brings back seven more wicked spirits, leaving the person worse off than before.
These readings remind us that our faith must be active and rooted in God’s grace. In Galatians, we see that faith is not just intellectual assent but a radical trust in God’s promises, which unites us to Christ and makes us heirs of the blessings given to Abraham. In Luke, we are called to recognize the reality of spiritual warfare and the need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, lest we become vulnerable to the lies and temptations of the enemy. Our lives must be marked by a deep reliance on God’s grace and a commitment to living in the freedom and power of the Spirit. Let us not settle for a superficial faith or a life that is merely “swept clean” but not inhabited by the presence of God. Instead, let us seek to be fully alive in Christ, trusting in His power to overcome every stronghold and to fill us with His life-giving Spirit.