Daily Reading
First Reading
Ephesians 1:15-23
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Psalm
Psalm 8:2-3ab, 4-5, 6-7
Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
to silence the enemy and the avenger.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?
Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under their feet,
all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
Gospel Reading
Luke 12:8-12
“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say.”
Reflection
Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus promises that divine aid will assist us in defense of persecution. From the earliest centuries into modern times, the Church, especially when it shows itself clearly, has been persecuted.
Do you know the principle that if someone brings bad news people will “kill the messenger”? In some ways, that’s why the Church is persecuted. We bear the message of a new world. And the old world never likes that message, which threatens it. Therefore, the instinct to kill the messenger kicks in. The Church will be persecuted as long as it speaks the words—the liberating words—of Jesus Christ.
So, what shall we do? How should we live during this period? Listen to the Lord: “When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be. . . . For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.” We have a simple job during the in-between times. We announce the Gospel with courage. Why? Because we’re speaking with the authority of the Lord. And the power of the old world cannot overcome us.
So, no matter how much violence is going on, we have a place of safety.