Daily Readings - Sat Oct 20 2018

¹⁵Because of this, and hearing of your faith that is in the Lord Jesus, and of your love toward all the saints¹⁶I have not ceased giving thanks for you, calling you to mind in my prayers¹⁷so that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give a spirit of wisdom and of revelation to you, in knowledge of him¹⁸May the eyes of your heart be illuminated, so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and the wealth of the glory of his inheritance with the saints¹⁹and the preeminent magnitude of his virtue toward us, toward we who believe in accord with the work of his powerful virtue²⁰which he wrought in Christ, raising him from the dead and establishing him at his right hand in the heavens²¹above every principality and power and virtue and dominion, and above every name that is given, not only in this age, but even in the future age²²And he has subjected all things under his feet, and he has made him the head over the entire Church²³which is his body and which is the fullness of him who accomplishes everything in everyone

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

In today's readings, we explore the profound relationship between faith, wisdom, and the Holy Spirit. The first reading from Ephesians highlights Paul's gratitude for the Ephesians' faith and love, as he prays for their enlightenment and understanding of God's plan. He emphasizes the hope and inheritance believers have in Christ, who is exalted above all creation as the head of the Church. This passage underscores the richness of our spiritual inheritance and the unity we share in Christ's body. The Gospel from Luke shifts focus to Jesus' teachings on confession and the Holy Spirit's role. Jesus assures us that acknowledging Him before others will be met with His acknowledgment before the angels, while denial leads to denial. He also warns against blaspheming the Holy Spirit, the only unforgivable sin. Jesus then comforts His followers, promising that the Holy Spirit will guide their words when they face persecution or scrutiny. These readings together remind us of the Holy Spirit's vital role in our lives. Ephesians shows the Spirit as the source of wisdom and revelation, while Luke portrays the Spirit as our guide in times of trial. In our daily lives, this means trusting in the Spirit's guidance, especially in our speech and actions. When we face challenges, we can rely on the Spirit's wisdom to navigate them with grace and truth. The moral lesson here is one of faithfulness and trust, encouraging us to remain steadfast in our confession of Christ and open to the Spirit's leading. By doing so, we embody the hope and unity that define our life in Christ.