Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 30, 2022
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 2.10b-16
10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Psalm 145
1I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.2Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.3Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.4One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.5I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.6And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.7They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.8The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.9The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.10All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.11They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;12To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.13Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.14The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.15The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.16Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.17The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.18The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.19He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.20The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.21My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
Gospel: Luke 4.31-37
31And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.32And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.33And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,34Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.35And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.36And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.37And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore the profound role of the Spirit in revealing God's truths and the manifestation of divine authority through Jesus Christ. The first reading from 1 Corinthians emphasizes that the Spirit unveils God's mysteries, enabling believers to grasp spiritual truths that surpass human wisdom. This passage, set amidst a church grappling with divisions, underscores the unity and enlightenment the Spirit brings. The Gospel from Luke illustrates Jesus's authoritative teaching and His power over unclean spirits, marking the inception of His ministry. Here, Jesus demonstrates not only His doctrinal authority but also His dominion over evil, highlighting the Spirit's active role in His mission.
These readings intertwine the themes of spiritual understanding and divine authority. Paul's words remind us that true wisdom is a gift of the Spirit, beyond human intellect, while Luke's narrative shows this wisdom in action through Jesus's ministry. Together, they illustrate that spiritual discernment and power are not human achievements but divine endowments.
In our daily lives, this teaches us to trust in the Spirit's guidance, seeking wisdom through prayer and humility. As we navigate life's challenges, we are reminded to rely on the Spirit for discernment, understanding that without it, we cannot fully grasp God's plan. Let us embrace spiritual humility, acknowledging our dependence on the Spirit, and strive to live in accordance with the mind of Christ, allowing His wisdom to guide our thoughts and actions.