Saturday - October 17, 2020
“Seek refuge in Mary because she is the city of refuge. We know that Moses set up three cities of refuge for anyone who inadvertently killed his neighbor. Now the Lord has established a refuge of mercy, Mary, even for those who deliberately commit evil. Mary provides shelter and strength for the sinner.”
- Saint Anthony of Padua
October 17, 2020
Memorial of Saint
Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr
Lectionary: 472
Brothers and sisters:
Hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus
and of your love for all the holy ones,
I do not cease giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation
resulting in knowledge of him.
May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,
what are the riches of glory
in his inheritance among the holy ones,
and what is the surpassing greatness of his power
for us who believe,
in accord with the exercise of his great might,
which he worked in Christ,
raising him from the dead
and seating him at his right hand in the heavens,
far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion,
and every name that is named
not only in this age but also in the one to come.
And he put all things beneath his feet
and gave him as head over all things to the Church,
which is his Body,
the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
Responsorial Psalm PS 8:2-3AB, 4-5, 6-7
R. (7) You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
O LORD, our LORD,
how glorious is your name over all the earth!
You have exalted your majesty above the heavens.
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings
you have fashioned praise because of your foes.
R. You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars which you set in place—
What is man that you should be mindful of him,
or the son of man that you should care for him?
R. You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
You have made him little less than the angels,
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
putting all things under his feet.
R. You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
Alleluia JN 15:26B, 27A
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of truth
will testify to me, says the Lord,
and you also will
testify.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK 12:8-12
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you,
everyone who acknowledges me before others
the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.
But whoever denies me before others
will be denied before the angels of God.
“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven,
but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
will not be forgiven.
When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities,
do not worry about how or what your defense will be
or about what you are to say.
For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
HOW TO HEAR THE FATHER'S VOICE AND SILENCE THE EVIL ACCUSER
When we hear any accusatory voice, we should never listen to it. Not at all. Never ever. It's the sound of condemnation. If it makes you feel belittled, unworthy of love, undeserving of good things, unable to receive forgiveness, that's not Father God speaking.
Whenever the Father speaks to you, he speaks to whatever is true in you, whatever is noble, what is right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy in you.
On the other hand, if the voice disagrees with Abba-Father's nature and what he has said about you, reject it. It's Satan accusing you. And he's a liar. Jesus called him the father of lies (see John 8:44). Satan wants to undermine your relation with God the Father so that he can become your spiritual father.
For example, Abba-Father would never say to you, "You're a sinner, therefore I do not love you." Or, "You're a failure." Or, "You're not good enough." Nor would he ever communicate words of shame to you. I've said this before and I'll say it again because it's so vital to your relationship with the Father: The Father created you as "good" (see Genesis 1:26-31). You were made in the image of God and he always sees the good in you. When he invites repentance, it is with encouragement, never shame.
There is no condemnation for us if we are in Christ Jesus, because Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and the punishment of death. He gave us his own Holy Spirit (see Romans 8:1-2), and therefore when the Father looks at us, he sees the Holy Spirit and he sees our desire to grow in holiness. Even if that desire is nearly imperceptible, he sees it. He smiles at you and embraces you and affirms what is good in you.
Only those who have no such desire should worry about condemnation. There are many who claim to believe in Jesus but, lacking a desire to be holy, they do not remain in him. They do not follow him. Even demons believe in Jesus -- which is why they work so hard to pull us away from him.
This is the only unforgivable sin: To reject the desire to be holy. Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin" (Mark 3:28-29 NIV). Heaven is only for the holy. No one who deliberately rejects holiness will want to spend eternity with God and the saints.
Today's Prayer
My Lord, may I face everyday hardships with trust in You and praising You with Your fire inside of me. Amen.
God Bless You.....
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