October 12, 2012

Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 465

A Reading from St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians

 1 Gal 3:7-14

Brothers and sisters:
Realize that it is those who have faith
who are children of Abraham.

 >>>All who believe in Jesus Christ are children of Abraham:

Isaiah 51:1-2
King James Version (KJV)
1 Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.  ² Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

Scripture, which saw in advance that God
would justify the Gentiles by faith,
foretold the good news to Abraham, saying,
Through you shall all the nations be blessed.

 >>>Scripture fortetold that the Gentiles would turn to God:

Isaiah 11:10
King James Version (KJV)
¹⁰ And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

Consequently, those who have faith are blessed
along with Abraham who had faith.

 >>>And all who have faith will be justified with Abraham.

For all who depend on works of the law are under a curse;
for it is written, Cursed be everyone
who does not persevere in doing all the things
written in the book of the law.

 >>>Those who depend on their works in accordance with the Law of Moses are under a curse because Scripture says, "Cursed be everyone who does not persevere  in doing all the things written in the book of the Law."

This is a bit confusing.  The assumption, here, in my opinion, is that the one who depends upon the works of the law is depending on himself.  Thus making an idol of himself.  Let me take you to one of Christ's parables:

Luke 18:9-14
King James Version (KJV)
⁹ And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:¹⁰ Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.  ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.¹² I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.¹³ And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

As you can see, the Pharisee depended upon his keeping the works of the Law.  Thus he trusted in himself and not in God.  In so doing, he did not keep the First Commandment to love God with all your heart, mind and soul.  

And that no one is justified before God by the law is clear,
for the one who is righteous by faith will live.

 >>>No one is justified by the Law but the one who is righteous in God's eyes is the one who is faithful to God.

In my opinion, we need to temper this verse with Romans 2:13:

Romans 2:13
King James Version (KJV)
¹³ (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

In other words, we are not justified by the Law.  But unless we do the works of the Law, we will not be justified by God.

But the law does not depend on faith;

>>>This means that the Law is binding on all.  Whether one is faithful to God or not is not an issue.  The wicked and the just are all bound by the Law.

Romans 2:11-12
King James Version (KJV)
¹¹ For there is no respect of persons with God.¹² For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

rather, the one who does these things will live by them.

 >>>The ones who do the works of the Law will inherit eternal life because only by faith can one keep the Law of God:

Galatians 5:6
King James Version (KJV)
⁶ For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,
for it is written, Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree,

>>>The tree symbolizes the Cross.  Jesus hung on the cross to pay for our sins.

Deuteronomy 21:22
King James Version (KJV)
²² And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:

that the blessing of Abraham might be extended
to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus,
so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

 >>>When Jesus died on the Cross, He paid for all the sins of humanity.  The slate was wiped clean and God could proceed to institute another Covenant which now included the Gentiles.  So that all could be saved in Baptism.  That is where we receive the Spirit:

Acts 2:38-39
King James Version (KJV)
³⁸ Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.³⁹ For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 111:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6

Response. (5) The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.

I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.

R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.

Majesty and glory are his work,
and his justice endures forever.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the LORD.

R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.

He has given food to those who fear him;
he will forever be mindful of his covenant.
He has made known to his people the power of his works,
giving them the inheritance of the nations.

R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.

>>>God is faithful, even if we are not.  Although we have all fallen short of the glory of God, those who, by faith repent and ask forgiveness will be forgiven and saved by the Mercy of God:

Titus 3:5
King James Version (KJV)
⁵ Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke

Gospel Lk 11:15-26

When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said:
"By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons,
he drives out demons."

 >>>Although Jesus was driving out demons, many were saying that He was in alliance with Satan.

Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.

 >>>As though driving demons out were not enough, others were testing Him for a sign from heaven.

But he knew their thoughts and said to them,
"Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste
and house will fall against house.

 >>>But Jesus responded, "a house divided will fall".

And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?
For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.

 >>>And if Satan is fighting himself, how will his house remain?

If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul,
by whom do your own people drive them out?
Therefore they will be your judges.

 >>>If I drive the devil out by the help of the devil (Beelzebul or Beelzebub, is another name for the Devil).

But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,
then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.

 >>>But if I am driving out demons by the finger of God, then know that God's Kingdom is here.

When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,
his possessions are safe.

 >>>When a powerful man guards his house, it is safe.

But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes away the armor on which he relied
and distributes the spoils.

 >>>But when a stronger one attacks, he defeats him and takes everything away and passes it out to his friends.

Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

 >>>If you are not with me, you are against me.

"When an unclean spirit goes out of someone,
it roams through arid regions searching for rest
but, finding none, it says,
'I shall return to my home from which I came.'

 >>>When a demon leaves a soul, it roams around searching for somewhere to rest.  Finding no place else, it returns to the soul it left.

But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order.
Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits
more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there,
and the last condition of that man is worse than the first."

 >>>But when it comes back, it finds the soul clean and orderly.  So then it goes and brings back many more demons more wicked than itself and the man is in a worse condition than he was at first.

St. Peter puts it differently:

2 Peter 2:20-22
King James Version (KJV)
²⁰ For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  ²¹ For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  ²² But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Sincerely,

De Maria