Daily Readings September 4, 2012

Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 432

Reading 1
1 Cor 2:10B-16

Brothers and sisters:The Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.

This is a beautiful verse about the Spirit which indwells us and teaches us to pray.

Romans 8:26
King James Version (KJV)
²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Among men, who knows what pertains to the manexcept his spirit that is within?

The Spirit of God within us, not only knows the unsearchable depths of God, but knows us better than we know ourselves:

Romans 8:27
King James Version (KJV)
²⁷ And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God.We have not received the spirit of the worldbut the Spirit who is from God,so that we may understand the things freely given us by God.

This is why God gave us the Spirit, so that we may understand Him:

Ezekiel 11:19
King James Version (KJV)
¹⁹ And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

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.

And we speak about the spiritual truths of God in spiritual terms:

2 Corinthians 3:6
King James Version (KJV)
⁶ Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

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 everythingbut is not subject to judgment by anyone.

Romans 8

King James Version (KJV)

⁴ That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ⁵ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. ⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

For "who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him?"

I don't understand this verse, but it reminds me of when Jesus said:

John 3:13
King James Version (KJV)
¹³ And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 

But we have the mind of Christ.

I think this means that we have the mind of Christ because we are one Body with Christ:

1 Corinthians 12:11-13

King James Version (KJV)

¹¹ But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. ¹² For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. ¹³ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13Ab, 13Cd-14

Response. (17) The Lord is just in all his ways.

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.

The Psalm speaks of the greatness and goodness of God.  God is literally all we have:

Acts 17:28
King James Version (KJV)
²⁸ For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

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 teachingbecause he spoke with authority.

Remarkably, after all the signs Jesus had performed throughout Israel, the people still did not realize who He is.

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!"

But the demons knew.  And one of them spoke out and called Him by name.

Jesus rebuked him and said, "Be quiet! Come out of him!"Then the demon threw the man down in front of themand came out of him without doing him any harm.

But Jesus simply called it out of the man which it was possessing and simultaneously silenced the demon and cured the man.

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.

And the crowds were amazed.  And the good news of His amazing signs spread throughout Galilee.

Sincerely,

De Maria