Daily Readings - Fri Oct 09 2020
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 are invited to reflect on the nature of faith, the struggle against evil, and the transformative power of God’s grace. The first reading from Galatians emphasizes that true righteousness comes not from following the law but from faith in God. Abraham, the father of faith, trusted in God’s promise, and through faith, we too become children of Abraham. St. Paul reminds us that Christ has freed us from the curse of the law, offering us the blessing of salvation through faith. This teaching challenges us to trust in God’s mercy rather than relying solely on our own efforts.
The Gospel from Luke presents a dramatic scene where Jesus confronts accusations that His power to cast out demons comes from Beelzebub, the prince of demons. Jesus responds by pointing out the absurdity of a divided kingdom and asserts that His power comes from God. He warns that unless we align ourselves with Him, we risk spiritual harm. The parable of the unclean spirit returning with seven more wicked spirits serves as a stark reminder that merely cleansing our lives of sin is not enough; we must fill the void with the presence of God. This teaching calls us to ongoing conversion and to seek the strength of the Holy Spirit in our spiritual battles.
These readings remind us that faith is not just a mental assent but a living trust in God’s plan. We are called to move beyond superficial religiosity and to engage in the deeper struggle against sin and evil. Like the strong man who overcomes the armed robber, Jesus has defeated the powers of darkness, but we must cooperate with His grace to remain free. Let us ask for the courage to stand firm in faith, to seek God’s help in our struggles, and to allow His Spirit to dwell in us richly. In doing so, we will experience the transformative power of His kingdom in our lives.