27th Week in Ordinary Time, Friday, Oct. 13,2006

Scripture: Galatians 3:7-14. Psalm 111:1-6. Luke 11:15-26

Paul cites a text from Habakkuk, one of the Minor Prophets, "the just one shall live by his faith." The Hebrew text has the word "emunah" which really means steadfastnes and faithfulness. When Moses lifted his hands which were steady this same word is used. Paul is encouraging the Gentiles to remain loyal to their newly acquired Christian principles and to suffer for them if this is demanded. With this type of fidelity the Holy Spirit dwells within the believer just as God's Spirit led Abraham to believe and he was thereby rendered just in the sight of God and became a model for all believers in the one God. Paul came to realize such "emunah" through his extraordinary conversion which is in the background of the epistle to the Galatians. My own founder, Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, loved this text and encouraged us as Marianists to live by such faithfulness and steadfastness. It is also expressed in a motto dear to us Marianists : Fortes in Fide, that is, strength in our faithfulness or Be Stron in Faith.

In a commentary on Habakkuk I found that this is an important text for our Jewish brothers and sisters. It reads "The Talmud records the famous remark of R. Simlai (Makkot 23b), 'Moses gave Israel 613 commandments. David reduced them to ten, Isaiah to two, but Habakkuk to one: the righteous shall live by his faith.'".

In the Gospel, Jesus casts out a demon and then is said by some to do this through the Devil. Jesus, however, is the one who is under the guidance and power of God's Holy Spirit and has the authority to cast out all evil. To do otherwise would be cooperating with the Devil. So the accusers are in trouble by saying what is done by God's power throught he Holy Spirit in Jesus is evil contradicts and destroys the unity of the Devil. A house divided against itself cannot stand. This is the difficult situation of what is known as the unforgiveable sin against the Holy Spirit. Simply, it is diabolical to call something evil that is clearly and outright good. This would be a form of blasphemy against God's very goodness.

Lord, let us live by faith and not by sight. Help us to be guided by your spirit of holiness and to be steadfast and faithful in our lives. We ask this through the power of the Holy Spirit working in Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen.