Daily Readings - Fri Oct 09 2020
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 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.