Saturday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
October 16, 2021
Saturday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 472
Reading I
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.
Responsorial Psalm
- (8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations –
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
For he remembered his holy word
to his servant Abraham.
And he led forth his people with joy;
with shouts of joy, his chosen ones.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Alleluia
- Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord,
and you also will testify.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
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.”
Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, virgin
Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Hedwig, religious
Reflection: A LIFE OF FAITH
"Hence all depends on faith, everything is grace" (Rom 4:16). Everything depends on faith: marriage, parenting, finances, health, education, happiness, security. Therefore, in every area of our lives, we should seek opportunities to act in faith. We should not try to maintain the status quo but break new ground by acting in faith. We should maximize our faith opportunities, seeking to walk by faith and not by sight. According to St. Paul, faith is: 1. Accepting as true what we are told 2. Accepting the whole Doctrine: whatever a catholic believes. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches the Catholic Faith. 3. To know, love and serve God. 4. Trust and confidence. Faith knows whom it trusts. This was the faith of Abraham. Faith leads to grace and the love of God. We have no reason to fear. If we lived for God, the father would protect us. In danger we run into the merciful arms of the father. The spirit is our advocate who will put the right word into our mouth at the right time. Our security is in the hands of God. It is necessary to decide to be with Jesus. Luke makes it evident that the communion that Jesus gives at the present time to his disciples will be confirmed and will become perfect now of his coming in glory. It is indispensable to the