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Saturday – Twenty-eighth week – OT1
Readings: Rom 4:13, 16-18; Lk 12:8-12.
Reading 1 (Rom 4:13, 16-18): Brothers and sisters:
It was not through the law
that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants
that he would inherit the world,
but through the righteousness that comes from faith.
For this reason, it depends on faith,
so that it may be a gift, and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants,
not to those who only adhere to the law
but to those who follow the faith of Abraham,
who is the father of all of us, as it is written,
I have made you father of many nations.
He is our father in the sight of God,
in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead
and calls into being what does not exist.
He believed, hoping against hope,
that he would become the father of many nations,
according to what was said, Thus shall your descendants be.
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.”
I. THEME: Let believe in what God promised and be a witness for Him.
Many people used what happened for them to apply to God; for example, they love people who did good for them, so they think God loves only people who keep God’s law, go to church, and preach the Good News. The truth is God loves people when they are still sinners, weak, and full of shortcomings. People have no merit of God’s love and grace; the only thing they can do is to believe in God’s love and power. If they do that, they will be justified and inherited all of God’s grace.
Today readings want to make clear this truth. In the first reading, St. Paul argued with the Jews and gave a clear reason why the grandfather Abraham was inherited God’s promise to become the father of many nations: not of his keeping of the Law; but of his absolute faith in God’s power and love. In the Gospel, Jesus wanted his disciples to completely believe in him and in his Spirit, especially when they must confront the wrong and witness for the truth.
II. ANALYSIS:
1/ Reading I: Because of his faith, Abraham was inherited God’s promise.
1.1/ The Law have no power to justify people.
(1) It is not by the Law Abraham was inherited God’s promise: The Law which God gave to people through Moses happened 430 years after Abraham’s death; therefore, one cannot say by the law Abraham was inherited God’s promise; but it was his faith in God. St. Paul declared that “It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world, but through the righteousness that comes from faith.”
If it is correct for Abraham, it is also correct for all of us: “For this reason, it depends on faith, so that it may be a gift, and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not to those who only adhere to the law but to those who follow the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all of us, as it is written, I have made you father of many nations.”
(2) God changed the name for Abraham: When he was still living at Urs, his name was Abram which is meant “the father was honored.” God changed his name to Abraham which is meant “the father of many nations” (Gen 17:5). St. Paul repeated this fact as follows: “As it is written, I have made you father of many nations. He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not exist.”
1.2/ Trust God in all situations: God promised to give Abraham as many descendants as stars in heaven and as sand on seashore; but in reality, Abraham had only two sons: Isaac and Ismael. How could Abraham become the father of many nations with his only two sons? In human eyes, this is impossible; but in the eyes of Abraham’s faith, he believed God has power to fulfill what he promised. St. Paul explained: “He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not exist. He believed, hoping against hope, that he would become the father of many nations, according to what was said, thus shall your descendants be.”
Some commentators thought God could let Abraham to forsee Christ’s birthday in his linear when they did an exegesis on John 8:56: “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day; he saw it and was glad.” Because people will believe in Christ, Abraham will become the father of many nations.
2/ Gospel: “Everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.”
2.1/ The witness is necessary to arouse faith in people: Two things that help people to believe in Christ are the preaching and the preacher’s witness. The latter sometimes attracts people more than the earlier, because “words call people’ attention, but deeds make people to believe.” Gandhi, the leader of the Indian non-violent movement, said: “If all Christians live what Jesus taught, the whole world might already believed in Christ.” In order to live what Christ taught, Christians need to learn the Gospel where the evangelists recorded all Christ’s teachings. If one does not want to learn, how can he know what to do?
Our purpose of life is to be a witness for God by preaching and good deeds. The purpose of the Church’s existence is also to bring the Good News to all people. If we don’t fulfill this duty, how can we reach the eternal life which Christ has prepared for us? In today’s Gospel, Christ declared the results for those who did and did not fulfill their duty: “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.”
2.2/ What is the sin against the Holy Spirit? Generally, it is the sin of those who don’t believe in Christ and his teachings. The mission of the Holy Spirit is to help us to know the truth, the sin against him is to refuse to follow his guidance. In the Gospel of Matthew and of Mark, both mentioned the sin against the Holy Spirit when some Jews said to Jesus: “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons” (Mt 12:31-32, Mk 3:28-29).
Why can it not be forgiven? When one lost his sensitivity of the truth to the point that one believed the falsity is the truth or reverse; or like the Jews who believed Jesus is a member of Beelzebul, how can they believe in Christ in order to have salvation? Similarly, when one lost his sensitivity of sin to the point that nothing is sinful to them, he won’t need forgiveness. Therefore, when one denied following the Holy Spirit’s instruction to know the truth, he has no hope to inherit the salvation.
2.3/ The Holy Spirit’s role in time of witness: Jesus declared the Holy Spirit’s role to his disciples: “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.” The Holy Spirit was called the Advocate in the Fourth Gospel, and the duty of the Advocate is to speak on behalf of the accused. It is the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and power which made many fragile and simple people to become courageous martyrs and gave us many of their wise sayings.
III. APPLICATION IN LIFE:
– To believe in God’s promise is the condition to become righteous and to inherit God’s grace and the reverse is also true.
– The mission of the Holy Spirit is to lead people to understand Christ’s revelations and teachings. We need to pray to him every time we hear and learn Scripture.