Daily Readings - Fri Oct 11 2024
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 explore themes of faith, justification, and spiritual warfare. The first reading from Galatians emphasizes that faith in God, as exemplified by Abraham, justifies us, not adherence to the law. Paul explains that through faith, Gentiles are included in God's promise to Abraham, and Christ's sacrifice redeems us from the law's curse. The second reading from Luke presents Jesus confronting accusations of using demonic power, where He illustrates the futility of a divided kingdom and the inevitability of the stronger man overcoming evil. He warns that an empty spiritual house invites worse evil, stressing the need for spiritual vigilance.
Both readings highlight the centrality of faith in our spiritual lives. Galatians underscores that our justification comes through faith, uniting believers across cultures and backgrounds. Luke's passage reminds us that faith is our armor in spiritual battles, protecting us from evil's influence. Together, they teach us to trust in God's power and grace, rather than our own efforts or strength.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to examine our spiritual state. We must ensure our hearts are filled with God's presence, cultivated through prayer and sacraments, to prevent the return of evil. By living in faith, we join Abraham and Christ in a spiritual lineage that transcends the law, embracing God's promise of eternal life. Let us strive to be strong in faith, knowing that true strength lies in God, and that without Him, we are vulnerable to spiritual decay.