Saturday, October 15, 2011 {t. Teresa of Jesus, Virgin, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
It is God's way to give much for little. Our Lord does not attend to how much we give, but to the generosity of our will, and for this very reason He makes much of a little.
-- St. John Chrysostom


READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Romans 4:13, 16-18
(God's Promise Is Received through Faith)
13 When God promised Abraham and his descendants that the world would belong to him, he did so, not because Abraham obeyed the Law, but because he believed and was accepted as righteous by God.
16 And so the promise was based on faith, in order that the promise should be guaranteed as God's free gift to all of Abraham's descendants—not just to those who obey the Law, but also to those who believe as Abraham did. For Abraham is the spiritual father of us all:
17 as the scripture says, “I have made you father of many nations.” So the promise is good in the sight of God, in whom Abraham believed—the God who brings the dead to life and whose command brings into being what did not exist.
18 Abraham believed and hoped, even when there was no reason for hoping, and so became “the father of many nations.” Just as the scripture says, “Your descendants will be as many as the stars.”
Psalms: Psalm 105:6-9, 42-43
42 He remembered his sacred promise to Abraham his servant.
43 So he led his chosen people out, and they sang and shouted for joy.
Gospel: Luke 12:8-12
(Confessing and Rejecting Christ)
8 “I assure you that those who declare publicly that they belong to me, the Son of Man will do the same for them before the angels of God. 
9 But those who reject me publicly, the Son of Man will also reject them before the angels of God.
10 “Whoever says a word against the Son of Man can be forgiven; but whoever says evil things against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
11 “When they bring you to be tried in the synagogues or before governors or rulers, do not be worried about how you will defend yourself or what you will say. 
12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”