Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection October 11, 2024
Twenty-Seventh Week of Ordinary Time
11th October 2024 (Friday)
Psalter: Week 3
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Galatians 3:7-14
Brethren: Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
Psalm 111:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6 (R. 5b)
R/. The Lord keeps his covenant ever in mind.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Now will the ruler of this world be cast out, says the Lord; and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 11:15-26
At that time: [When Jesus had cast out a demon,] some of the people said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armour in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Friday – Twenty-Seventh Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: Very many times, the power and the greatness of faith is measured in terms of human capacities to perform great things. But great faith is great trust and surrender to God
1. We must know that we are spiritually and morally weak. We must know that we are constantly assailed by evil forces. We also must know that we are susceptible to fail and fall. This knowing is not enough. We must also know that God is the strongest man and stronger than the devil who is stronger than the human.
2. Our strength alone will not be enough to confront and defeat evil. We need to depend on God. Only with His strength can we stand firm against the evil one. It is not enough that we keep the house clean and in order.
3. It indicates using the human resources and capacities. But this house that is released from the evil spirit must be filled with the clean and holy spirit. Otherwise, the unclean spirit will enter and possess more powerfully an empty heart.
4. This is the real faith of Abraham mentioned in the first reading. He was reckoned as a righteous person in God’s sight. It is not because of his mere observance of the Law. Rather, it is because of his faith in God and loyalty to His covenant.
5. This Trust in God and entrustment to God implies that we are humble and open enough to see and acknowledge the power of God working in our life. We should not be like Pharisees and scribes who were so so jealous, stubborn and closed. Consequently, they will not accept and appreciate the good that surrounds them.
6. Still further, they will make wrong attributions even to the healing acts of Jesus. They wrongly attributed the miracles to Jesus’ coalition with Satan. They accused him, “he casts out demons with the help of Beelzebul, the prince of demons.”
Practice: God does not expect that we are super-strong and resist and overcome the devil all the times. There are never guarantees that we will come out as victors against Satan always. We will not succeed as long as we depend only on human resources and not God
