Daily Readings - Fri Oct 12 2018
Galatians
6just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"?7Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.8And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed."9So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.10For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them."11Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith."12But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them."13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us--for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"--14so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
Luke
15But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,"16while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven.17But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.18And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.19And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.20But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.21When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe;22but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.23Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.24"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.'25And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order.26Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first."
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.