Daily Readings - Sat Oct 17 2020

¹⁵Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,¹⁶Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;¹⁷That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:¹⁸The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,¹⁹And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,²⁰Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,²¹Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:²²And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,²³Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Luke

Chapter 12

⁸Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:⁹But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.¹⁰And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.¹¹And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:¹²For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye 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.