How is your faith?

Gospel Reflection

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.”

Luke 12:8-12

Faith. 

Faith in God, faith in his promise, faith in the covenant he made with Abraham, faith in Christ and the salvation he brings, faith in the Holy Spirit and the strength, zeal, and passion it brings, that is what it takes for us to be called Christians. 

Today is Saturday of the 28th week in ordinary time and on this day we remember two beautiful saints - Saint Hedwig whose devotion to the Blessed Sacrament aided her in her journey towards holiness; and Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque whose visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus revealed how the heart of Jesus is pained by our continued sinfulness. But more importantly, Saturday is the day of Our Lady, whose love for her son, our lord Jesus Christ, overflows to those whom Jesus has entrusted to her. 

These three beautiful women have shown us how their love for Christ - in the blessed sacrament, in his most sacred heart, and for the children entrusted to her - is nourished by their faith in him. 

In our first reading, St. Paul reminded the Christians in Rome that more important than the law instituted by man is the believers' faith in the Father. He revealed that God's promise to Abraham and his descendants to inherit the earth is made because of his righteousness to the Father, brought about by his faith in Him. And we, in faith, are Abraham's descendants in the eyes of God. So you believe in this? Have faith. 

And in our gospel today from the book of Luke, we are encouraged to live out our faith, to proclaim our faith, to not be ashamed and afraid to reveal our faith, for, as Luke said, the Holy Spirit will be there to defend our faith. 

Like Sts. Hedwig and Margaret Mary, and our dear Mother, may we have the courage to express our love for Jesus and God, our Father, by courageously witnessing our faith in him, knowing that the Holy Spirit will always be there to help us, to guide us especially in times of trials. 

Let this be our prayer.

Image: Guido Jansen | Unsplash