Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 17, 2020
First Reading: Ephesians 1.15-23
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.
Psalm 8
1O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.2From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.3When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,4what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?5You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.6You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:7all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field,8the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.9O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Gospel: Luke 12.8-12
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
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.