Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 8, 2021
Psalm 9
1I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.2I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.3When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.4For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.5Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.6O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.7But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.8And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.9The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.10And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.11Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.12When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.13Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:14That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.15The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.16The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.17The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.18For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.19Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.20Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.
Gospel: Luke 11.15-26
15But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.16And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.17But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.18If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.19And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.20But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.21When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:22But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.23He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.24When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.25And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.26Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
Sermon
The Gospel today presents a vivid exchange between Jesus and those who questioned His authority and the source of His power. Some accused Him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the leader of demons, while others demanded a sign from heaven to test Him. Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, responded with a series of profound truths. He emphasized that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, and if Satan were to fight against himself, his kingdom would collapse. Jesus then challenged His accusers, pointing out the inconsistency of their claims and inviting them to consider the deeper reality: if His power was not from Satan, then it must be from God. He warned them that the kingdom of God was already at hand, and they were either with Him or against Him. Finally, He taught a parable about an unclean spirit returning to a man, making his condition worse than before, highlighting the danger of superficial spiritual renewal without true conversion.
This passage is set in the context of Jesus’ ministry, where His miracles and teachings were drawing both admiration and opposition. The Pharisees and others were threatened by His authority and sought to discredit Him by attributing His power to evil forces. Jesus’ response reveals the spiritual warfare at play and the necessity of a radical commitment to God’s kingdom. The readings remind us that spiritual truths are not neutral; we are either aligned with God or against Him. The parable of the unclean spirit serves as a warning against complacency or shallow faith, urging us to seek a deep and lasting transformation in our lives.
In our daily lives, these teachings call us to reflect on our own spiritual state. Are we merely going through the motions of faith, or are we truly surrendered to God’s will? The unclean spirit’s return warns us that a life without a strong spiritual foundation is vulnerable to darkness and sin. Let us ask ourselves: Am I allowing God to truly reign in my heart, or am I resisting His grace? Jesus’ words remind us that the battle between good and evil is real, and we must choose sides. May we strive to be fully with Him, allowing His kingdom to take root in our lives, so that we may experience true freedom and peace.