Lectionary: 464
Reading 1
gal 3:1-5
O stupid Galatians!
Who has bewitched you,
before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
I want to learn only this from you:
did you receive the Spirit from works of the law,
or from faith in what you heard?
Are you so stupid?
After beginning with the Spirit,
are you now ending with the flesh?
Did you experience so many things in vain?–
if indeed it was in vain.
Does, then, the one who supplies the Spirit to you
and works mighty deeds among you
do so from works of the law
or from faith in what you heard?
Responsorial Psalm
lk 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75
R. (68) Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
R. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
R. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
R. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
R. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; He has come to his people.
Gospel
lk 11:5-13
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Suppose one of you has a friend
to whom he goes at midnight and says,
‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey
and I have nothing to offer him,’
and he says in reply from within,
‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked
and my children and I are already in bed.
I cannot get up to give you anything.’
I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves
because of their friendship,
he will get up to give him whatever he needs
because of his persistence.
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives;
and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
What father among you would hand his son a snake
when he asks for a fish?
Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit
to those who ask him?”
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: IN THE SPIRIT OR IN ?
"If you, with all your sins, know how to give your children good things, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him." –Luke 11:13
When we were baptized and confirmed, we received the Holy Spirit. At countless other times, we have again received the Spirit. We thus have every reason to be filled with the Spirit (see Acts 2:4; 4:8; 4:31; 7:55). However, because of our sins and selfishness, we have stifled (1 Thes 5:19) and saddened the Spirit (Eph 4:30). Therefore, we must repent (see Acts 2:38) and once again ask for the fullness of the Spirit (see Lk 11:13).
If we don't stir into flame the gift of the Spirit in our lives (see 2 Tm 1:6-7), we may even lose the Spirit. It is possible for a Christian to begin in the Spirit and to end in the flesh (Gal 3:3). It is possible for a person to go from the fullness of the Spirit to the empty desolation of hell (see Heb 6:4-6). So it is a choice between life in the Spirit or the death of sin (Rm 8:13). We must renew our Baptisms and Confirmations. Only the Holy Spirit can prevent us from being devoured by the evil spirit (1 Pt 5:8).
Come, Holy Spirit!
PRAYER: "Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love." Father, send forth the Spirit, and we shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth.
PROMISE: "Is it because you observe the law or because you have faith in what you heard that God lavishes the Spirit on you and works wonders in your midst?" –Gal 3:5
PRAISE: St. John Leonardi said: "Children should be entrusted only to good and God-fearing teachers."
Be an inspiration, kindly Share.
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