Bible Diary

Daily Reading

Ignatius of Antioch

LECTIONARY
472

FIRST READING

Eph 1:15-23

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked 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 one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

PSALM

PS 8:2-3AB, 4-5, 6-7

Response: 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.

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?

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.

GOSPEL

Lk 12:8-12

“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And 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. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Daily Reflection

Paul exudes Christian character when he prays and gives thanks for the Ephesians each time he thinks of them and their faith. He prays even more for the gifts of “wisdom & revelation” so that they “grow in knowledge of (Jesus)” whom God has “raised above” every name.

The Gospel has Jesus speaking in the context of fearlessness in the face of persecution and telescoping this into the background of the Last Judgement. To accept Jesus is to accept the power of the Holy Spirit at work in Him. Thus, the sin against the Holy Spirit that Jesus mentions is not just a denial of Jesus but, rather, a stubborn rejection of the Holy Spirit working in the person of Jesus and the Spirit’s capacity to lead, guide and transform the disciple. This is made aptly clear when Jesus tells the disciples “not to prepare” their defence when brought before authorities but to trust in the Spirit’s guidance.

Are you a disciple? Have you entrusted yourself to the power of the Holy Spirit?