Daily Readings - Sat Oct 20 2018

¹⁵For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,¹⁶I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.¹⁷I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.¹⁸I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,¹⁹and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,²⁰which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,²¹far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.²²And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,²³which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Luke

Chapter 12

⁸"I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.⁹But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.¹⁰And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.¹¹"When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say,¹²for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."

Sermon

In today's readings, we explore the profound relationship between faith, wisdom, and the Holy Spirit. The first reading from Ephesians highlights Paul's gratitude for the Ephesians' faith and love, as he prays for their enlightenment and understanding of God's plan. He emphasizes the hope and inheritance believers have in Christ, who is exalted above all creation as the head of the Church. This passage underscores the richness of our spiritual inheritance and the unity we share in Christ's body. The Gospel from Luke shifts focus to Jesus' teachings on confession and the Holy Spirit's role. Jesus assures us that acknowledging Him before others will be met with His acknowledgment before the angels, while denial leads to denial. He also warns against blaspheming the Holy Spirit, the only unforgivable sin. Jesus then comforts His followers, promising that the Holy Spirit will guide their words when they face persecution or scrutiny. These readings together remind us of the Holy Spirit's vital role in our lives. Ephesians shows the Spirit as the source of wisdom and revelation, while Luke portrays the Spirit as our guide in times of trial. In our daily lives, this means trusting in the Spirit's guidance, especially in our speech and actions. When we face challenges, we can rely on the Spirit's wisdom to navigate them with grace and truth. The moral lesson here is one of faithfulness and trust, encouraging us to remain steadfast in our confession of Christ and open to the Spirit's leading. By doing so, we embody the hope and unity that define our life in Christ.