Justification by Faith – Lived Out in Friendship

Greetings on this the Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Galatians 3:1-5; Luke 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75; Luke 11:5-13

Summary

Justification by Faith

Does, then, the one who supplies the Spirit to you and works mighty deeds among you do so from works of the law or from faith in what you heard? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son. (Gal 3:5; Lk 11:13; Acts 16:14b).

Reflection

Lived Out in Persistent Friendship

And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him.’ (Lk 11:5-6).

A friend helps a friend be a friend. It’s a team effort. Relationship begins as gift, not achievement. The same gifts St Paul speaks about.

The Answer to Prayer

And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened (Lk 11:9-10).

Personal Reflection

Ask to receive the Friendship of the Lord and of Man.
Seek to enliven Friendship as to be like the Lord gives.
Knock on your own spiritual door persistently – in opposition to our natural self – that the door of friendship be opened. To our own house. Unto the house of the Lord.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100826.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry