Catholic Daily Reading: 17 October 2020 

Saturday 17th October

Weekday (28) ordinary Time
Vestment: Red
Today’s Rosary: The Luminous Mystery

ST IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH, Bishop and Martyr (MEMORIAL)
Ignatius succeeded St Peter as bishop of the Church at Antioch. While on his way to Rome, where he was put to death by being thrown to wild beasts in the amphitheater, he wrote seven letters to various Church communities in which he encouraged Christians to be faithful to their calling and to be strong in the face of persecutions. He was martyred during the reign of Trajan in 107.

FIRST READING

“He made Christ the head over all things for the Church, which is his body. ”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians (Ephesians 1:15-23)

Brethren: Because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power in us who believe, according to the working of his great might which he accomplished in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come; and he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the Church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 8:2-3a.4-5.6-7 (R. see 6a)

R/. You have given your Son power
over the works of your hands.

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic
is your name through all the earth!
Your majesty is set above the heavens.
From the mouths of children and of babes
you fashioned praise. R.

When I see the heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars which you arranged,
what is man that you should keep him in mind,
the son of man that you care for him? R.

Yet you have made him little lower than the angels;
with glory and honour you crowned him,
gave him power over the works of your hands:
you put all things under his feet. R.

ALLELUIA John 15:26b.27a

Alleluia. The Spirit of truth will bear witness to me, says the Lord; and you also are witnesses. Alleluia.

GOSPEL

“The Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say. ”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 12:8-12)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Every one who acknowledges me before men, the Son of man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; but he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And every one who speaks a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how or what you are to answer or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection

The prayer of thanksgiving by Paul in the first reading is a true reflection of the joy that comes with bearing true witness for Christ Jesus. This action of Paul merely affirms what Jesus says when he promises the acknowledgements of Jesus. Every sincere word of praise is translated into a sincere good action towards our neighbour. This in itself is far from blasphemy against the Holy Spirit for the Spirit of God enables us to be wise and reveals to us the truth of the mysteries of the kingdom of God.

Today’s Saint and Quote: St Margaret Mary Alcoque – October 17th

Conform yourself as closely as possible to His humility and gentleness in dealing with your neighbor. . . Love those who humble and contradict you, for they are more useful to your perfection than those who flatter you.