Daily Readings - Fri Oct 09 2020
Galatians
6Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."7Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.8The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you."9So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.10All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."11Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith."12The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will 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 hung on a tree."14He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Luke
15But some of them said, "By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons."16Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.17Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.18If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub.19Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.20But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.21"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe.22But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.23"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.24"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.'25When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.26Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the nature of faith, the struggle against evil, and the transformative power of God’s grace. The first reading from Galatians emphasizes that true righteousness comes not from following the law but from faith in God. Abraham, the father of faith, trusted in God’s promise, and through faith, we too become children of Abraham. St. Paul reminds us that Christ has freed us from the curse of the law, offering us the blessing of salvation through faith. This teaching challenges us to trust in God’s mercy rather than relying solely on our own efforts.
The Gospel from Luke presents a dramatic scene where Jesus confronts accusations that His power to cast out demons comes from Beelzebub, the prince of demons. Jesus responds by pointing out the absurdity of a divided kingdom and asserts that His power comes from God. He warns that unless we align ourselves with Him, we risk spiritual harm. The parable of the unclean spirit returning with seven more wicked spirits serves as a stark reminder that merely cleansing our lives of sin is not enough; we must fill the void with the presence of God. This teaching calls us to ongoing conversion and to seek the strength of the Holy Spirit in our spiritual battles.
These readings remind us that faith is not just a mental assent but a living trust in God’s plan. We are called to move beyond superficial religiosity and to engage in the deeper struggle against sin and evil. Like the strong man who overcomes the armed robber, Jesus has defeated the powers of darkness, but we must cooperate with His grace to remain free. Let us ask for the courage to stand firm in faith, to seek God’s help in our struggles, and to allow His Spirit to dwell in us richly. In doing so, we will experience the transformative power of His kingdom in our lives.