FIRST READING
“Those who are men of faith are blessed with Abraham who had faith.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians (Galatians 3:7-14)
Brethren: You see that it is men 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 men of faith are blessed with Abraham who had faith. For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be every one who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no man is justified before God by the law; for “He who through faith is righteous shall live”; but the law does not rest on faith, for “He who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us — for it is written, “Cursed be every one who hangs on a tree” — that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 111:1b-2.3-4.5-6 (R. 5b)
R/. He keeps his covenant ever in mind.
I will praise the Lord with all my heart,
in the meeting of the just and the assembly.
Great are the works of the Lord,
to be pondered by all who delight in them. R/.
Majestic and glorious his work;
his justice stands firm forever.
He has given us a memorial of his wonders.
The Lord is gracious and merciful. R/.
R/. He keeps his covenant ever in mind.
He gives food to those who fear him;
keeps his covenant ever in mind.
His mighty works he has shown to his people
by giving them the heritage of nations. R/.
ALLELUIA John 12:31b-32
Alleluia. Now shall the ruler of this world be cast out, says the Lord; and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“If it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (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, sought from him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and house falls upon house. 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 shall 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 in peace; but when one stronger than he assails him and overcomes him, he takes away his armour in which he trusted, and divides his spoil. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest; and finding none he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
Trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey. This song may help us understand better that Christ Jesus redeemed us from the burden of the Law yet invites us to the New Land of freedom that is premised on faith in him and doing what he asks of all of us. The gospel of today afford us the opportunity of reflecting on the trust (faith) that we express. He or she who is not with Jesus and does not gather with him scatters. Being with Jesus simply is obeying his commandment of love that binds us together into one big family of Christ. Whenever our deeds do not please God, then we are not gathering with Jesus and the consequence is outright failure and communion with the devil who has a divided and scattered kingdom.