Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection October 19, 2024

19th October 2024 (Saturday)

Psalter: Week 4

Readings of the Day

First Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23

Brethren: Because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power towards us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Psalm 8:2-3a, 4-5, 6-7 (R. see 7a)

R/. You have given your Son power over the works of your hands.

Gospel Acclamation

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

Saturday – Twenty-Eighth Week of Ordinary Time

Guidelines: A life of faith implies and summons us to be committed to what and to whom we believe

1. We are living in a world where people tend to be non-committal. Even if they make a commitment, they do not want a long-term or life-long commitment. The mentality is “as long as it works,” as long as something is convenient and suited to my likes and needs. This affects all areas of life, whether it is marital, social or political, or economic.

2. The same uncommitted mentality affects the religious or spiritual sphere as well. This is indicated by Jesus’ words in the gospel. He speaks of acknowledging him or denying him; bearing witness to him or evading any stand and risk.

3. Jesus’ words make it clear that religion is not merely a matter of subscribing to some doctrines and traditions. Rather it is essentially a matter of living a way of life, a commitment to follow Jesus. It is a personal relationship and binding. However, it is not merely a private matter of loyalty to an individual Jesus.

4. Rather, it is a commitment to the divine itself. In other words, committing to Jesus would imply committing to the presence and power of God itself. It is accepting and committing to the spiritual realm in human life. In this sense, true faith is a call to live a life that is not earth-bound and limited to the material and worldly. Rather, it is to live a Spirit-oriented life.

5. This would imply in the light of the first reading to live according to the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God. It is to have the eyes of our hearts enlightened, to know and inherit the riches of His glorious inheritance, to experience the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ.

6. Understood in this way, denying and non-committing to the spiritual power of God will amount to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit itself. It is not a matter of denying the name of God but denying the very spiritual power and action of God in our lives.

Practice: Many mistake religious adherence only as being bound to certain names of God or rituals. They forget that it is essentially a commitment to live in the spiritual realm, under the influence of the Holy Spirit