St. Hedwig, wife, religious
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, virgin, religious


Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:

Romans 4:13,16-18
Psalm 105:6-9,42-43
Luke 12:8-12


A reflection on today's Scripture:

The one who blasphemes against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven.(Luke 12:10)

Faith, God's gift, is offered to all; but only those gain it who genuinely seek Him, receive and conform their lives to His truth and love fully revealed in Christ. Faith requires nurturing. It isn't the mere following of rules; it grows as we develop intimacy with Christ through prayer.

Though we gain knowledge of Christ from scripture, worship and the Sacraments, we need daily to draw close to His Person, speak our hearts to Him and listen as He reveals to us those sins and faults that prevent Him from infusing us with His new life-- the graces that impart the peace, joy, truth, love, goodness and justice for which all humanity yearns.

Faith assures us that in eternity we will be His and He will be ours perfectly. In this world sin prevents our fully experiencing God's blessings. Sin not only blinds us to our own sin, it also magnifies others' faults and blinds us to God and His sovereignty over us.

Christ says that any sin, genuinely repented, will be forgiven. Only one cannot be forgiven: blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. This is "unbelief," the terminal faithlessness of those so sin-hardened they can't or won't discern divine love, truth and goodness despite God wondrously and continually manifesting Himself in His creation.

Merciful God,
save all humanity;
healing us from blindness
to Your truth and love. Amen.

- Marie L. Bocko OCDS