Friday, October 9, 2026

 

Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

(Galatians 3:7-14; Luke 11:15-26)

In today’s first reading St. Paul warns the Galatians about “works of the Law.”  He is not talking about good deeds done to benefit others.  Rather he has in mind the physical rites of Judaism like circumcision and continual ablutions.  He says that these are unnecessary and even counterproductive in light of Christ.  What saves people – he implores -- is faith.  He will expand that remedy later in the letter -- “faith working through love.”

In the gospel Jesus preaches along the same line. He tells the crowd gathered as he drove out a demon the story of a similar expulsion.  He says that when an evil spirit is driven out, it looks for an opportunity to reenter the poor soul along with companions.  When the victim tidies up his soul with physical trappings but no works of charity for God’s sake, the demons attack.  They march in like locusts in a wheat field to cause more harm than before.

Physical trappings for us may be wearing a rosary around our necks and continual genuflections in front of the altar.  These actions are not bad in themselves, but they lack the power to save.  Only as much as they foster “faith working through love” can they lead us to God’s Kingdom.

Thursday, October 8, 2026

 

Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

(Galatians 3:1-5; Luke 11:5-13)

People often wonder why God does not seem to answer their prayers.  After all, Jesus promises in today’s gospel that the one who asks, will receive.  To illustrate what he means, he adds that one has only to knock, and the door will be opened to her.

Jesus has also just told a parable indicating that the prayer must be persistent.  The neighbor asking bread is not assisted until he repeatedly makes the request.  Persistence indicates the person’s need that a request be granted.  More importantly, it shows the faith of the petitioner in the goodwill of the one asked.

Persistence is not always required.  God often grants a request that is sincerely made.  We should not hesitate to ask for anything that is truly beneficial and needed.  As Jesus indicates, our Father in heaven is anxious to help us.

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

 Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

(Galatians 2:1-2.7-14; Luke 11:1-4)

In his wartime memoir, Flight to Arras, Antione de Saint-Exupéry compares the concentration of a Dominican friar at prayer to the intensity of Louis Pasteur looking through a microscope.  Saint-Exupéry wants to emphasize that although both postures seem to be passive, in truth neither is.  Both contemplative and scientist are fully alive although neither makes any outward movement.  In today’s gospel Jesus exhibits the same fullness of purpose as he prays to the Father.

As he does often in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is seen praying.  His prayer attracts the attention of one of his disciples.  The understudy asks Jesus to teach him and his cohort how to pray.  Jesus then relates a shortened version of what is known as the “Our Father” or “The Lord’s Prayer.”

When we are at prayer, it is all too likely that what Jesus says with intensity, we pass over without much thought.  We must make more effort to take Jesus’ own words to heart.  “Our Father” – God loves us as much as any father has loved his child. “Hallowed be they name” – we love you in turn so much that we want his fame spread throughout the world.

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

(Galatians 1:13-24; Luke 10:38-42)

As much as people look for God, God is finding them.  Both readings today testify to God calling on people.  In the first reading St. Paul tells how he was persecuting Christians when the resurrected Christ appeared to him.  Since it is the personal testimony of someone who saw the risen Lord, the account is of significant apologetical value.  However, Paul does not elaborate about what happened beyond saying that it led to his proclamation of Christ to Gentiles.

In the gospel Jesus visits Martha and Mary in their home.  They are evidently friends as Martha does not hesitate to complain to him.  Indeed, they seem to be such good friends that Jesus can correct Martha’s crankiness without reservations.  Meanwhile, Mary knows that when the Lord comes, people should drop everything to listen.  No matter if dinner is ready on the stove or if the dryer buzzer has just rung, Jesus deserves full attention.

Jesus comes to us especially in the Eucharist.  But he also arrives throughout the day at unexpected moments.  He may say something important to us through the friendly mail carrier.  Or perhaps when we face a setback, he will console us if we offer a prayer instead of a curse.  He is always near and will make himself apparent if we open ourselves to him.

Monday, October 5, 2026

 

Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

(Galatians 1:6-12; Luke 10:25-37)

A few years ago, the distinguished New York Times columnist, David Brooks, startled his readers with a confession.  Raised a Jew, Brooks wrote that he has come to believe in Jesus Christ as the way of life.  His Jewish friends told him that he must choose between Judaism and Christianity.  They were presenting Brooks with a similar option that St. Paul makes to the Galatians in today’s first reading.

Although Paul taught the Galatians that salvation comes through Christ, some have accepted an added requirement.  Other Christian preachers have insisted that circumcision is necessary.  They likely preached that since Jesus was a Jew, to follow him means to become a Jew as well.  In terms as blunt as a hammer, Paul refutes this idea.  All that is necessary – he says toward the end of the letter -- is “faith working through love.”

No Christian preacher today recommends circumcision as necessary for salvation.  However, people ceaselessly promote other extraneous practices.  The rosaries and other devotions serve good purposes, but none is necessarily a prerequisite for salvation.  It will always be “faith working through love,” sacramentalized in Baptism, that saves us.