" The tree that is beside the running water is fresher and gives more fruit."

~~~   ST. TERESA OF AVILA   ~~~

Blessed Virgin Mary 

St. Teresa of Avila, virgin & Doctor

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

Ephesians 1:15-23

I have been

Told of your faith and your affection towards all the believers,   so I always give thanks to God, remembering you in my prayers.

 May the God of Christ Jesus our Lord, the Father of Glory, reveal himself to you and give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation, that you may know him.

May he enlighten your inner vision, that you may appreciate the things we hope for, since we were called by God.

May you know how great is the inheritance, the glory, God sets apart for his saints;

may you understand with what extraordinary power he acts in favor of us who believe.

He revealed his almighty power in Christ when he raised him from the dead and had him sit at his right hand in heaven,   far above all rule, power, authority, dominion, or any other supernatural force that could be named, not only in this world but in the world to come as well.

Thus has God put all things under the feet of Christ and set him above all things, as head of the Church   which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

 

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

You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 12:8-12

I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before people, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. But the one who denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.

There will be pardon for the one who criticizes the Son of Man, but there will be no pardon for the one who slanders the Holy Spirit.

When you are brought before the synagogues, governors and rulers, don’t worry about how you will defend yourself or what to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you have to say.”

 

 Gospel Reflection：

The Unforgivable Sin

Any sin conceivable can be forgiven, except the sin against the Holy Spirit, which is declared “unforgivable.” This statement of Jesus is so significant that all three synoptic gospels mention it. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that one can call out “Abba, Father.”

If one rejects that Spirit, we have rejected God for ever. The official Catechism explains it thus: “There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit”(CCC, #1864).

This again informs us that it is we who make the possibility of hell a reality, and not God. As Pope John Paul said,”Eternal damnation”, therefore, is not attributed to God’s initiative because in his merciful love he can only desire the salvation of the beings he created. In reality, it is the creature who closes himself to his love” (General audience, July 28, 1999).