The Holy Spirit will Teach You

OCTOBER 16, 2021, Saturday
Saturday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)
(Opt. Mem) Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin (White)
(Opt. Mem) Saint Hedwig, Religious (White)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 472

Reading I
Rom 4:13, 16-18

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
105:6-7, 8-9, 42-43

R.    (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
Jn 15:26b, 27a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord,
and you also will testify.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Lk 12:8-12

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.”

REFLECTION:

It is not always easy to declare oneself openly for Jesus in the presence of others. Sometimes because we deem it counterproductive, but at other times because we are fearful of what the others might think about us. Today I ask for the gift of light and for fortitude, to be able to live in integrity before Jesus and before others.

PRAYER:

As I pray with you Lord, I thank you for your forgiveness when I have been disabled by fear. Your love can eliminate my fear. Over and over you tell me not to be afraid. Plant in me your spirit of courage so that I may speak clearly and confidently to others about your word.