Luke 12:8-12

Ephesians 1:15-23

Psalm 8:2-3ab, 4-5, 6-7

Luke 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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, do not let me become hard of heart. Open my heart to the gift of your Spirit. Empowered by your Spirit, help me to be fearless in acknowledging you, confessing your name, and living a life of holiness.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Acknowledging vs. Denying the Son of Man: On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus gave a long sermon on genuine discipleship (Luke 12:1-13:9). He began the sermon by putting his disciples on guard against hypocrisy: “Beware of the leaven – that is, the hypocrisy – of the Pharisees.” A hypocrite is someone who wears a mask. The Pharisees were hypocrites because they wore a mask on the outside and acted as if they were upright and good, but inside, they were full of evil (see Luke 11:39). The Pharisees “were quick to point out what they perceived as the faults of others but did not see their own” (Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, 235). The Pharisees chose to oppose Jesus early on (Luke 5:17-6:11). They were prime examples of people who denied Jesus. In fact, they went so far as to plot together against Jesus (Luke 6:11). Unlike the Pharisees who denied Jesus, we need to acknowledge Jesus. We need to do this not just through our internal faith and external confession but also in our words and actions. If we do this, then Jesus, as the glorified Son of Man, will acknowledge us when we are judged in the next life (see Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, 237). If we deny Jesus – like many of the Pharisees – then we will be denied by Jesus at our judgment.

2. Forgivable Words against the Son vs. Unforgivable Blasphemy against the Spirit: In the Gospel, Jesus contrasts two sinful actions – one that is forgivable and the other that cannot be forgiven. When we sin, we commit an offense against God, set ourselves against God’s love for us, and turn our hearts away from God’s love. Sin is a disobedience, a revolt against God. Instead of accepting the difference between good and evil, we want to determine for ourselves “like gods” what is good and what is evil. When we speak a word against Jesus, we sin. However, if we turn from these sins, they can be forgiven (CCC, 1850). By contrast, blasphemy against the Spirit is the deliberate refusal to accept God’s mercy. It is a rejection of the forgiveness of sins. It is a rejection of the salvation that God offers. It is a hardening of the heart that leads to final impenitence and eternal loss (CCC, 1864). The only thing that cannot be forgiven, then, is the refusal to seek and accept God’s forgiveness.

3. May God Give You a Spirit of Wisdom: In the Letter to the Ephesians, Paul prays that the Ephesians grow in their wonder of God’s work and Christ’s majesty. Paul asks for two gifts to be given to the members of the Church. The first gift is that of the Holy Spirit, who is called the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. The second gift is for the eyes of their hearts to be enlightened. The gift of the Spirit will impart intimate knowledge of God and God’s plan of salvation. This gift of enlightenment will instill hope for eternal life. By welcoming these two gifts, we can contemplate the mystery of Jesus’ ascension to heavenly glory and his heavenly seat at the right hand of the Father. “Christ has been exalted, and those who believe are governed and strengthened unto salvation by his universe-ruling power” (Prothro, The Apostle Paul and His Letters, 177). Instead of thinking according to the false spirit of the world that the wicked and prideful flourish, we can discern how God is reigning over and acting in the world according to the true Spirit of wisdom. Those who humbly and mercifully serve truly flourish and will be exalted with Jesus.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I trust in you and welcome your mercy and forgiveness. Help me to know my faults and sins, confess them humbly, and make amends with those I have offended.

Living the Word of God: What does my repentance from sin look like? When I pray, do I thank God for his mercy toward me? Do I recall how I have offended God and my brothers and sisters? Do I actively work with God’s grace to repair the relationships I have broken?