Daily Readings - Fri Oct 11 2024
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 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.