Friday 20 October
Friday of week 28 in Ordinary Time First reading - Romans 4:1-8 “Abraham put his faith in God, and this faith was considered as justifying him”. The faith of Abraham in God is a complete surrender. When the faith in God is above all what we have and we are, faith is taken to a different sphere. It is not anymore, a faith as a sentiment, it is a faith as a relation. A faith in the Lord who called him. A faith in God who want to enter into a relationship with him. A faith in the Lord who justifies him. This faith is what we needed. It is not about what we do or what our deeds are. But it is about our relationship with God. It is about the faith in the Lord who forgives our sins and makes us sinless. This faith is the justifying faith. Let’s reflect: Do I believe in the faith which justifies me?
Thursday 19 October
Thursday of week 28 in Ordinary Time Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, priests, and their Companions, Martyrs Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest First reading - Romans 3:21-30 The justice of God always existed but with the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the same justice is made know to everyone. It is the same justice of God that comes through faith to everyone without distinction. Each person must be made just because each one sins. Each one is under the justice of God. The justice of God is executed through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the only son of God. God wanted that in Jesus Christ, each person comes to reconciliation with Him. This reconciliation comes through faith in Jesus Christ. “He justifies everyone who believes in Jesus”. This process is through faith and not by doing something the law tells us to do. This process is open to all without any distinction. In Jesus Christ we are reconciled to God after being washed away our sins in the blood of Jesus. Let’s reflect: Am I grateful for the reconciliation available for me by faith in Jesus Christ?
Wednesday 18 October
Saint Luke, Evangelist - Feast First reading - 2 Timothy 4:10-17 “But the Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear”. Today we are celebrating the feast of St. Luke who testified the life of Christ and the early Church in a unique way. In the words of St. Paul, we can understand the reason for that. In the missionary journey of St. Paul, only Luke remained with him. In the difficulties of the missionary journey, Paul found comfort in the presence of the Lord and this also Luke experienced. Paul felt that the Lord stood with him and gave him power so that Paul become an instrument for the spreading the gospel. In the same way Luke also became an instrument in spreading the gospel. So, in the moments of difficulties in our life, when we feel the presence of the Lord at our side and when we feel that the Lord gives us power, we become the instruments of proclamation of gospel. Let’s reflect: Do I feel the Lord at my side in my difficulties so that I can become an instrument of His message?
Tuesday 17 October
Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop, Martyr Tuesday of week 28 in Ordinary Time First reading - Philippians 3:17-4:1 “For us, our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the saviour we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body”. This is the foundation of life. Our homeland is in heaven, and we wait for Jesus Christ. Whatever we do here, and we have here, we are going to leave what we have. That means it’s temporary. What we have is temporary and we are waiting for Jesus Christ. We await Him because He is going to transform us in the way He resurrected. In His resurrection we are going to be transformed or changed. We become like Him in resurrection. So, Jesus Christ becomes our foundation. Let’s reflect: Is Jesus Christ foundation of my life?