Oct 19 2024

First reading Ephesians 1:15-23

Paul’s prayer for the enlightenment of the faithful

I, having once heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus, and the love that you show towards all the saints, have never failed to remember you in my prayers and to thank God for you. May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him. May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers. This you can tell from the strength of his power at work in Christ, when he used it to raise him from the dead and to make him sit at his right hand, in heaven, far above every Sovereignty, Authority, Power, or Domination, or any other name that can be named not only in this age but also in the age to come. He has put all things under his feet and made him, as the ruler of everything, the head of the Church; which is his body, the fullness of him who fills the whole creation.

Responsorial Psalm 8:2-7

You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
O Lord, our Lord,
how glorious is your name over all the earth!
You have exalted your majesty above the heavens.
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings
you have fashioned praise because of your foes.
You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars which you set in place—
What is man that you should be mindful of him,
or the son of man that you should care for him?
You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
You have made him little less than the angels,
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
putting all things under his feet.
You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

Gospel Luke 12:8-12

If you declare yourselves for me, I will declare myself for you

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘I tell you, if anyone openly declares himself for me in the presence of men, the Son of Man will declare himself for him in the presence of the angels. But the man who disowns me in the presence of men will be disowned in the presence of God’s angels.

‘Everyone who says a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

‘When they take you before synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say, because when the time comes, the Holy Spirit will teach you what you must say.’

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Being open to the Holy Spirit

We may be puzzled by the words of Jesus in this gospel, wondering how a sin could be unforgivable. In baptism, we receive the Holy Spirit, who is the love between the Father and the Son, and He dwells within us. St Paul tells us, in the first reading, that he prays for us to see the light of the Holy Spirit, to acknowledge His presence, and to allow Him to work in us. ‘I ask the Father to give you the Spirit…I ask that your minds may be opened to see his light, so that you will know what is the hope to which he has called you…and how very great is his power at work in us who believe.” (1st reading).

To sin against the Holy Spirit would be to deny and reject His presence in us. This denial prevents us from allowing the Holy Spirit to live and work in us, depriving us of living the gospel. In this way, we are the ones who reject forgiveness. In fact, we would not ask for it since we would not recognize God within us. Let us be aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to work in us and through us.

Reflective question:
How can I be more aware of the Holy Spirit in me?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.