First reading Romans 4:13,16-18
Abraham hoped and believed and became the father of many nations
The promise of inheriting the world was not made to Abraham and his descendants on account of any law but on account of the righteousness which consists in faith. That is why what fulfils the promise depends on faith, so that it may be a free gift and be available to all of Abraham’s descendants, not only those who belong to the Law but also those who belong to the faith of Abraham who is the father of all of us. As scripture says: I have made you the ancestor of many nations – Abraham is our father in the eyes of God, in whom he put his faith, and who brings the dead to life and calls into being what does not exist.
Though it seemed Abraham’s hope could not be fulfilled, he hoped and he believed, and through doing so he did become the father of many nations exactly as he had been promised: Your descendants will be as many as the stars.
Responsorial Psalm 104(105):6-9,42-43
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or
Alleluia!
O children of Abraham, his servant,
O sons of the Jacob he chose.
He, the Lord, is our God:
his judgements prevail in all the earth.
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or
Alleluia!
He remembers his covenant for ever,
his promise for a thousand generations,
the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac.
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or
Alleluia!
For he remembered his holy word,
which he gave to Abraham his servant.
So he brought out his people with joy,
his chosen ones with shouts of rejoicing.
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or
Alleluia!
Gospel Luke 12:8-12
If you declare yourselves for me, I will declare myself for you
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘I tell you, if anyone openly declares himself for me in the presence of men, the Son of Man will declare himself for him in the presence of the angels. But the man who disowns me in the presence of men will be disowned in the presence of God’s angels.
‘Everyone who says a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
‘When they take you before synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say, because when the time comes, the Holy Spirit will teach you what you must say.’
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Faith is not just a personal matter
Are we witnessing publicly to Jesus in public? Yes, our faith is between God and I. However, although our faith is personal, it is never private. Jesus said in today’s gospel, “…if anyone openly declares himself for me in the presence of human beings…”, and this shows that we, as Christians, are called not to live our faith behind closed doors. Our personal relationship with Jesus must lead us to bear witness to Him in front of others. We let our light of faith shine when we live a life of love by speaking the truth to others, being honest in our dealings with others, being in solidarity with those suffering injustice, extending a helping hand to the elderly and the weak, etc. It is not easy because to bear witness to Christ implies going against the currents of the world, and we might even face hostility for being Christians.
At the end of the gospel, Jesus assured the disciples and us, “because when the time comes, the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say”. Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us in what we should say and do. When we witness to Christ, we are never alone because the Holy Spirit will work in us and through us.
Question for reflection:
Do I allow my relationship with Jesus to affect how I think, act, work, speak?
Do I allow my relationship with Jesus to affect how I think, act, work, speak?
