Thursday, October 13, 2011 (Weekday)

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
We need not fear to be puffed with the knowledge of what God has done for us, if we keep well before us the truth that whatever good there may be in us, is not of us. Though a mule is laden with the precious treasures of a prince, is it not still a clumsy, filthy beast? 
-- St. Francis de Sales


READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Romans 3:21-30
(How We Are Put Right with God)
21 But now God's way of putting people right with himself has been revealed. It has nothing to do with law, even though the Law of Moses and the prophets gave their witness to it.
22 God puts people right through their faith in Jesus Christ. God does this to all who believe in Christ, because there is no difference at all: 
23 everyone has sinned and is far away from God's saving presence.

24 But by the free gift of God's grace all are put right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets them free. 
25-26 God offered him, so that by his blood he should become the means by which people's sins are forgiven through their faith in him. God did this in order to demonstrate that he is righteous. In the past he was patient and overlooked people's sins; but in the present time he deals with their sins, in order to demonstrate his righteousness. In this way God shows that he himself is righteous and that he puts right everyone who believes in Jesus.
27 What, then, can we boast about? Nothing! And what is the reason for this? Is it that we obey the Law? No, but that we believe. 
28 For we conclude that a person is put right with God only through faith, and not by doing what the Law commands. 
29 Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles also? Of course he is.
30 God is one, and he will put the Jews right with himself on the basis of their faith, and will put the Gentiles right through their faith. 
Psalms: Psalm 130:1-6
(A Prayer for Help)
1 From the depths of my despair I call to you, Lord.
2 Hear my cry, O Lord; listen to my call for help!
3 If you kept a record of our sins, who could escape being condemned?
4 But you forgive us, so that we should stand in awe of you.
5 I wait eagerly for the Lord's help, and in his word I trust.
6 I wait for the Lord more eagerly than sentries wait for the dawn—than sentries wait for the dawn. 
Gospel: Luke 11:47-54
47 How terrible for you! You make fine tombs for the prophets—the very prophets your ancestors murdered. 
48 You yourselves admit, then, that you approve of what your ancestors did; they murdered the prophets, and you build their tombs. 
49 For this reason the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and messengers; they will kill some of them and persecute others.’ 
50 So the people of this time will be punished for the murder of all the prophets killed since the creation of the world,
51 from the murder of Abel to the murder of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the Holy Place. Yes, I tell you, the people of this time will be punished for them all!
52 “How terrible for you teachers of the Law! You have kept the key that opens the door to the house of knowledge; you yourselves will not go in, and you stop those who are trying to go in!”
53 When Jesus left that place, the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees began to criticize him bitterly and ask him questions about many things, 54 trying to lay traps for him and catch him saying something wrong.