Yes it is quite confusing for us to live in this world and yet possess a longing for a spiritual plane or dimension so to speak. Are we not in a deep sense spiritual beings trapped in the flesh of our earthly existence? Or instead of trapped perhaps we shall use encapsulated? We have been given keys to unlock a fair bit of the mystery but there is much we do not yet know. Let us dwell a little today on the our gift of faith.
We were created in the likeness and image of God. We therefore have Him imprinted in our souls. We were born into flesh. The Lord our God gave us laws so that we can live ordered and just lives in harmony with one another. Those who rebel against and break the laws are to be dealt with accordingly. Through our baptism we are united fully as God our Father’s children and His laws are written on our hearts. We have been given the most precious gift of faith when we were inserted into life, death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ by our baptism. We are called to Holiness, to be Holy as our Heavenly Father is Holy. Our Holiness comes from the deep and personal relationship with have in Jesus. Faith in Jesus is the only thing that can truly unite every living soul in the world.
Therefore all of us must strive each day to live our faith in Jesus and in the Spirit. We make a daily choice to do so, as a resounding Yes to our call to Holiness. We do so because we know it is the only way we can live to the full in His love, peace and joy. It is the only way to live in full communion with the Lord our God. Nothing and no evil can ever separate us from the love of God, for we have likewise chosen Him above all. Amen
First reading
Galatians 3:7-14 ·
The sons of Abraham are those who rely on faith
Don’t you see that it is those who rely on faith who are the sons of Abraham? Scripture foresaw that God was going to use faith to justify the pagans, and proclaimed the Good News long ago when Abraham was told: In you all the pagans will be blessed. Those therefore who rely on faith receive the same blessing as Abraham, the man of faith.
On the other hand, those who rely on the keeping of the Law are under a curse, since scripture says: Cursed be everyone who does not persevere in observing everything prescribed in the book of the Law. The Law will not justify anyone in the sight of God, because we are told: the righteous man finds life through faith. The Law is not even based on faith, since we are told: The man who practises these precepts finds life through practising them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by being cursed for our sake, since scripture says: Cursed be everyone who is hanged on a tree. This was done so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might include the pagans, and so that through faith we might receive the promised Spirit.
Gospel
Luke 11:15-26
The finger of God has overtaken you
When Jesus had cast out a devil, some of the people said, ‘It is through Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he casts out devils.’ Others asked him, as a test, for a sign from heaven; but, knowing what they were thinking, he said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin, and a household divided against itself collapses. So too with Satan: if he is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? – since you assert that it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils. Now if it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils, through whom do your own experts cast them out? Let them be your judges then. But if it is through the finger of God that I cast out devils, then know that the kingdom of God has overtaken you. So long as a strong man fully armed guards his own palace, his goods are undisturbed; but when someone stronger than he is attacks and defeats him, the stronger man takes away all the weapons he relied on and shares out his spoil.
‘He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters.
‘When an unclean spirit goes out of a man it wanders through waterless country looking for a place to rest, and not finding one it says, “I will go back to the home I came from.” But on arrival, finding it swept and tidied, it then goes off and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and set up house there, so that the man ends up by being worse than he was before.’
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