Daily Readings - Fri Oct 13 2023
Joel
13Priests, gird yourselves and lament. Ministers of the altars, wail. Enter, ministers of my God, lie in sackcloth. For sacrifice and libation have passed away from the house of your God14Sanctify a fast, call an assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of your God. And cry out to the Lord15"Ah, ah, ah, the day!" For the day of the Lord is near, and it will arrive, like a devastation, before the powerful
1Blow the trumpet in Zion, wail on my holy mountain, let all the inhabitants of the land be stirred up. For the day of the Lord is on its way; for it is near2a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and whirlwinds. Like the morning reaching over the mountains, they are a numerous and strong people. Nothing like them has existed since the beginning, nor will exist after them, even in the years of generation upon generation
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 powerful messages about spiritual conflict and the call to repentance. The first reading from Joel describes a time of crisis, urging the people to return to God through fasting and gathering. It warns of the Day of the Lord, a time of darkness and gloom, emphasizing the need for humility and repentance. The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus facing accusations of using Satan's power, where He responds by highlighting the divided kingdom and the strength of God's kingdom. He also warns about the return of an unclean spirit, illustrating the dangers of superficial faith.
The context of Joel's prophecy likely addresses a period of disaster, such as a locust invasion, calling Israel to repentance and reminding them of their covenant with God. In Luke, Jesus confronts opposition, reflecting the spiritual conflict and misunderstanding of His mission. Both readings tie together themes of spiritual conflict and the necessity of genuine commitment to God.
Applying these teachings to our lives, we are encouraged to examine our spiritual state, repent, and align ourselves with God's kingdom. The readings warn against complacency and superficial faith, emphasizing the need for a strong spiritual foundation. The moral lesson is clear: genuine commitment to God is essential, as a lukewarm faith can lead to worse spiritual outcomes. Let us strive for a deep, unwavering faith, avoiding the pitfalls of spiritual shallowness and embracing the transformative power of God's kingdom.