Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection October 10, 2024
Twenty-Seventh Week of Ordinary Time
10th October 2024 (Thursday)
Psalter: Week 3
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Galatians 3:1-5
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith.
Psalm Luke 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75 (R. see 68)
R/. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited his people.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Open our hearts, O Lord, that we may pay attention to the words of your Son
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 11:5-13
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Thursday – Twenty-Seventh Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: Lack of perseverance and commitment is one big sickness that is infecting today’s society. Many start great and big with bundles of enthusiasm and dedication but how long?
1. We are going through an “instant” culture. This means a mentality that wants things to happen instantly and immediately. People are not willing, ready, and prepared to be patient and wait.
2. They expect things to happen within no time. They want quick results. When this does not happen, when there is a delay, then easily they get upset, impatient, intolerant, irritated, annoyed, and even frustrated.
3. From this “fast food culture” and impatience, people fail to persevere. Thus many good things have a slow natural death because of the lack of stability and continuity. This was what happened in the case of the Galatians. Initially, they were so faithful. But they did not persevere in their faith and fidelity. They did not continue in the genuineness of their tradition.
4. In contrast, we have an example of perseverance in the gospel story. A friend goes to another friend at midnight asking for a little bread for his guest. His friend tries to excuse and exempt himself from giving what is asked for. However, because of the persistence of the seeker, he would give in and do the request.
5. The point is not to pester God and get things by all means. The contrast between a wicked father and benevolent Father is to press hard on the effect of perseverance. The straight message is, God is ever-giving and keen to grant us readily what we stand in need of. If the wicked humans themselves are so good to their children. How much more will an all-good be good to His beloved children?
6. God will never fail us in our needs. The only thing is, we must not limit this receiving of favours only to material things. Jesus makes it clear that it is primarily pertaining to the Holy Spirit, that is, the spiritual things. In simple, God would never deny or fail to supply what contributes to our holistic growth.
Practice: Surely, we trust Jesus’s assurance, “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find, and knock and it will be opened to you.” But we must always give space for God’s will, time, and ways in granting us
