Daily Readings - Sat Oct 17 2020

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

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.