28th Week in Ordinary Time
21st October 2023 (Saturday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 4
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Romans 4:13, 16-18
Brethren: The promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring-not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be."
Psalm 105:6-7, 8-9, 42-43, (R. 8a)
R/. The Lord remembers his covenant forever.
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. The Spirit of truth will bear witness about me, says the Lord; you also will bear witness.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : Luke 12:8-12
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, "And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."
Daily Gospel Reflection
Highlight: Disowning and disowned!
Guidlines: Those who see only with the eyes of the world cannot see beyond and cannot live beyond. But those who wear the optic of faith, will rise beyond the merely earthly and strive for the above{alertSuccess}
1. Faith is essentially a matter of fidelity. Still, this fidelity is not only to some beliefs and truths. Much more, it is fidelity to the person of Christ. It is a personal love, loyalty, and commitment to his life and mission.
2. Therefore, this faith makes us live a life of righteousness. Such a life constantly pushes us into situations of adversity and persecution. It is in such situations we need to profess our adherence to the Lord, and acknowledge him before all.
3. This then calls us to be men of courage and hope: the courage to face the present ordeals with the hope for future glory, even hoping against hope. Our judgment and destiny depend on our extent of fidelity. If we acknowledge him now, we will be acknowledged for heaven then.
4. But if we deny him now for fear or convenience, then we will be rejected. It is not that God is conditioned by our response. Rather, it implies that our life and our destiny depend on our freedom: it is we who are deciding and shaping our destiny here and now.
5. In freedom, we are called to be fully open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. We must cooperate with His plans and designs. We must allow Him to direct us. We must confide in his enlightenment and guidance.
6. We must stand solid with the courage with which he emboldens us. It is in this sense that we must understand the words of Jesus in today’s gospel referring to the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ words that the Holy Spirit will teach us what we ought to speak in the face of opposition are understandable.
7. But his words that “everyone who speaks against the Son of man will be forgiven, but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven” seem to be rather unclear and misleading.
8. Does it mean that we can dishonour and reject Jesus but should not do so toward the Holy Spirit? Does it mean the sins against Jesus are lighter and are forgiven, while the sins against the Holy Spirit are serious and not forgivable? Is it making a difference between the Second and Third Persons of the Holy Trinity?
9. I believe that such a doctrinal concern is not required now. Perhaps, what Jesus intends is: one may deny him as a human person and deny his powers in a human way. But one shall not deny the spiritual power and action of God, symbolized by the Holy Spirit.
10. One shall not deny God’s power in the blind eagerness to deny human power. In their hostility toward Jesus, let those people not reject the very power of God working through him. Therefore, they should seriously discern whether they are opposing God Himself in opposing him.
Practice: At times, due to our human weaknesses like jealousy, prejudice, and arrogance, we put ourselves directly against God. Let us not fail to accept and appreciate His spiritual power, His interventions, and His ways of assisting us{alertSuccess}