Reading 1 1 Cor 2:10b-16
The Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.
Among men, who knows what pertains to the man
except his spirit that is within?
Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God.
We have not received the spirit of the world
but the Spirit who is from God,
so that we may understand the things freely given us by God.
And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom,
but with words taught by the Spirit,
describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms.
Now the natural man does not accept what pertains to the Spirit of God,
for to him it is foolishness, and he cannot understand it,
because it is judged spiritually.
The one who is spiritual, however, can judge everything
but is not subject to judgment by anyone.
For “who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him?”
But we have the mind of Christ.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13ab, 13cd-14
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is just in all his ways.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. The Lord is just in all his ways.
Making known to men your might
and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. The Lord is just in all his ways.
The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. The Lord is just in all his ways.
Alleluia Lk 7:16
A great prophet has arisen in our midst
and God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Lk 4:31-37
Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee.He taught them on the sabbath,
and they were astonished at his teaching
because he spoke with authority.
In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon,
and he cried out in a loud voice,
“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”
Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!”
Then the demon threw the man down in front of them
and came out of him without doing him any harm.
They were all amazed and said to one another,
“What is there about his word?
For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits,
and they come out.”
And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.
SINGING SPIRITUALS
"The spiritual man, on the other hand, can appraise everything." –1 Corinthians 2:15
The Spirit of God is teaching us everything we need to know (Jn 14:26) and guiding us to all truth (Jn 16:13). However, only the spiritual person can accept what the Spirit is teaching (1 Cor 2:13-15). The merely natural person "cannot come to know such teaching because it must be appraised in a spiritual way" (1 Cor 2:14). Yet we should be able to accept the Spirit's teaching, since we are spiritual persons in Christ. We became spiritual when we were baptized.
However, we must live our Baptisms, or we will prevent ourselves from appraising and receiving the teaching of the Spirit. This explains why many Christians are not hearing the Spirit's word to their churches (Rv 2:7, 11, etc.), families, neighborhoods, businesses, and countries. The words of the Spirit are truth (1 Jn 5:6) and life (see Jn 6:63). The Spirit wielding the Word is our major offensive weapon in spiritual battle (Eph 6:17). We must hear the Spirit or be deceived, deprived, and defeated. Therefore, we must live our Baptisms and be spiritual persons – not only potentially, but actually.
Renew your baptismal promises. Repent. Give your life completely to Jesus. Love Him with all your heart. Then receive the Spirit, His teaching, and His life.
| PRAYER: | Father, send the Spirit of truth to guide me to all truth (Jn 16:13). |
| PROMISE: | "What is there about His speech? He commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they leave." –Lk 4:36 |
| PRAISE: | Once a "cafeteria Catholic," Marty received the Spirit and now believes all that the Church proclaims. |
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