Daily Readings - Fri Oct 13 2023
Joel
13Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests; wail, O ministers of the altar. Go in, pass the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God! Because grain offering and drink offering are withheld from the house of your God.14Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.15Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes.
1Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming; it is near,2a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people; their like has never been before, nor will be again after them through the years of all generations.
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 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.