Daily Readings - Sat Oct 17 2020

¹⁵For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,¹⁶I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,¹⁷that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,¹⁸having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,¹⁹and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might²⁰that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,²¹far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.²²And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,²³which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Luke

Chapter 12

⁸"And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God,⁹but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.¹⁰And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.¹¹And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say,¹²for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the relationship between faith, hope, and the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In the first reading from Ephesians, St. Paul expresses his gratitude for the faith of the Ephesians and prays that they may receive a spirit of wisdom and revelation to deepen their understanding of God’s plan for them. He reminds them of the hope of their calling and the immense inheritance they have in Christ, who is the head of the Church, his body. This passage emphasizes the richness of God’s grace and the unity of all believers in Christ. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches about the importance of confessing him before others and warns about the gravity of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. He reassures his disciples that when they face persecution or trials, the Holy Spirit will guide them in what to say. This passage underscores the central role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, especially in moments of challenge or uncertainty. Together, the readings highlight the interplay between faith, hope, and the divine assistance we receive through the Holy Spirit. As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are reminded to trust in the Holy Spirit’s guidance, especially when we face difficult decisions or challenges. Like the Ephesians, we are called to live with hope and confidence in God’s plan for us. Let us strive to be faithful witnesses to Christ, knowing that the Holy Spirit will empower us to live out our faith courageously. May we also deepen our understanding of God’s love and the unity we share as members of Christ’s body, the Church.