Galatians 3:7-14 / Luke 11:15-26
Paul speaks about salvation: Faith, not the Law, saves us.
A cellar wall in Cologne, Germany, contained a beautiful testimony to faith in God. Workers found it while clearing away debris and rubble from a bombed-out house. Written on the surface of one of the walls were these Words: "I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I do not feel it. I believe in God even when he is silent."
The unknown author's faith is a model of the kind of faith that Paul exhorts us to strive for in today's reading. It is the same kind of faith in God that our father in the faith, Abraham, had.
Do we realize that our faith is a gift, and do we ask God to
increase it? "I do have faith, but not enough. Help me have
more!" Mark 9:24
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Very often, life is like a paradox; it can be filled with so
many strange contradictions. We might think that when something good is done, people would be simply
happy and even rejoice and celebrate. But yet for every good that is done, there are criticisms and even slanderous
remarks that are made that leaves a sour and bitter taste in the mouth. But that should not be very surprising to us, isn't it? Because it happened to Jesus. He was doing something good by casting out
demons. Yet some people could even say that He was in cahoots with the devil. Absurd,
isn't it? Maybe it can be said that the most difficult demons to cast out are
those that like to criticize, to find fault, to argue regardless of the facts
or the truth. That kind of demonic behaviour exists in each of us. In this
Eucharist, let us ask Jesus to cast out that kind of demonic behaviour in us. Let
us ask Him to cleanse the temple of the Spirit that is within us. And with
Jesus in our hearts, let us gather people into the unity of the Spirit.
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Our Lady of the Rosary
Feast Day October 7
Many religions use beads to keep track of prayers. Our
Rosary, a circle of beads, is like a garland offered to Mary because we pray a
prayer on each bead. This well-loved prayer has its roots in the 150 psalms.
People who couldn’t read began praying 150 Hail Marys instead, the equivalent
of three of our modern rosaries covering the original three sets of mysteries.
The story of the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is an
interesting one. In the 16th century Pope Pius V was having trouble with the
Ottoman Turks, who were a real danger to Christianity. After months of
disagreements and bickering, he was able to unite Spain, Venice, and the States
of the Church in a naval expedition to fight the Turks.
The two navies met in the Gulf of Lepanto in Greece on
October 7, 1571. On the same day, the Rosary Confraternity of Rome was meeting
at the Dominican headquarters there. The group recited the Rosary for the
special intention of the Christians at battle. The Christians defeated the Turks
in a spectacular victory and believed it was the intercessory power of the
Blessed Virgin that won the victory. Pope Pius V dedicated the day as one of
thanksgiving to Our Lady of Victory. Pope Gregory XIII later changed the name
to the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. The story of the feast of Our Lady of
the Rosary focuses on the intercessory power of Mary. It shows that when
Christians are in danger, they can go to Mary. And when an individual is in
pain, discouraged, or having trouble accepting God’s will, he or she can also
go to Mary. She will pray to her Son for anyone who calls on her. Anyone who
prays to Mary no longer feels alone because she prays with them and for them.
Mary encouraged praying the Rosary in her apparitions. At Lourdes when she appeared
to Saint Bernadette, Mary had a Rosary. As Bernadette prayed it, Mary joined in
on the Glory Be prayers. At Fatima Mary exhorted the three children who saw her
to pray the Rosary for peace.
The Rosary is a deep prayer because as we recite the Our Fathers, Hail Marys, and Glory Bes, we meditate on the mysteries in the lives of Jesus and Mary. No wonder it pleases Our Lady when we pray the Rosary.
***
Friday of 27th Week
FAITH, LIKE ABRAHAM’S
Introduction
Abraham, our Father in the faith, was a man who lived according to the gospel
before Jesus proclaimed his Good News. He trusted God; he followed God’s call
without questioning God and demanding proofs. All he got was a promise to
believe in, and of that promise he himself – as God told him – would never see
the fulfillment.
In sharp contrast, with Abraham, the people of the promise in Jesus’ time
challenged and questioned him, especially the religious leaders. Even the signs
of liberation from evil that Jesus gave them did not impress them as signs to
believe in. What is our attitude toward the signs of God’s care in our lives?
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
faith is all that matters to save us.
We know it, and yet we seek proofs.
Help us to believe in you
on seeing your works:
your creation, your power,
your goodness that we encounter in people.
Grant us to live in trust
with the uncertain certainty of faith,
believing, hoping, loving
and trusting that you have set us free
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Commentary
Who are the true descendants of Abraham? This is the question that Paul raises
in today’s reading from Galatians. The answer, of course, is those who have
faith. In fact, Abraham was told that all the nations of the earth would be
blessed in him. This means those who have faith, as Abraham did, not those who
attempt to obey the law. In fact, those subject to the law are under a curse.
Scripture teaches that those who have faith shall live. Faith and law are at
counter-purposes; justification comes from one or the other.
The curse reserved for the law observer has been assumed by Christ himself. Now
the faith of Abraham may be extended to the nations. It is this faith that
saves through the gift of the Spirit.
Paul worked tirelessly in promoting faith in Christ Jesus as the sole cause of
salvation. To promote circumcision or any precept of the law was to detract
from the saving work of Christ. And for Paul that was nothing short of
blasphemy. Works in the Christian life proceed from faith; it is the justified
person who works in charity. Works do not lead to faith or bring about justice.
The Gospel today reminds us that temptation still remains our lot. Our
justification must be highly prized, which means that we must be on guard. The
forces of evil still try to overtake us.
Points to Ponder
Paul and the faith of Abraham
The curse of the law
Dealing with evil
Intercessions
– That like Abraham, our Father in the faith, Christians may put themselves
trustingly into God’s hands, we pray:
– That by the grace of God we may be good people who are a blessing to others,
we pray:
– That our hearts may not be divided, but that we try to live sincerely the way
of the gospel, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
our faith reassures us
that Jesus your Son,
already present in this community of faith,
will give himself to us in person
in these signs of bread and wine.
Strengthen our faith,
that we may sow and gather
on the side of your Son
and with him live in your love
now and for ever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, we thank you
for nourishing our hesitant faith
with the word of your Son
and with his bread of strength.
Engrave his message in our hearts
that it can never be erased
and keep us going without any need
of proofs and signs,
in the certainty that you love us
and that, even in trials and challenges,
you will lead us home to you
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
“Lord, make our faith grow!” That should be our cry from the heart. We ask the
Lord for a deep faith that accepts him on his word and that lets his message
and his person guide our lives. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the
Son, and the Holy Spirit.
