Catholic Men’s Daily Devotional and Bible Study – 28th Week in Ordinary time – Saturday – Luke 12:8-12

The Gospel reading from the Mass for Saturday of the 28th Week of Ordinary Time is Luke 12:8-12.

After exhorting the disciples to fear God’s Judgment and to be fearless of His enemies (the Pharisees, scribes, etc.), Christ warns the disciples to be loyal unto death in proclaiming their allegiance to Him and to promote His Gospel to all men. Christ promises to acknowledge to the Father those men who are loyal and to deny those men who reject or fearfully retreat in the face of persecution.

Ever merciful, Christ promises to forgive those who have spoken against Him; Christ will forgive those who have opposed Him if they repent (the Apostle Paul is a case in point). Christ reveals that those who blasphemy against the Holy Spirit can never be forgiven: those who reject the Holy Spirit refuse the grace of salvation that comes through the Spirit (CCC 1864).

Great King, Christ steels the disciples with promises of how He will make them victorious in battle. Rather than meekly submit to all persecution in fear, men are to reject anxiety and to be confident in Christ. Remarkably, Christ promises to send the Holy Spirit to actively speak through men in times of trial. Rather than fearfully denying Christ, men can be super-naturalized with the Holy Spirit.

Awed by Jesus Christ – Person of the Trinity, Christ reveals that the Holy Spirit is a person of the Trinity and promises the Holy Spirit will be given to men to guide their word in times of persecution. Divine Prophet, Christ accurately foresees the persecution of the Apostles. Divine King, He calls disciples to heroic self-sacrifice and, with omniscience, gives precise instructions as to the tactics they are to use.

Being a Heroic Catholic Man

1) While appearing to be a man, Christ has first-hand knowledge of the Father, the Holy Spirit, angels, Judgment and has the power to send the Holy Spirit to help men in times of distress. Be awed.

2) Many men can relate to the Father and the Son, but often find it difficult to relate to the Holy Spirit because He can seem mysterious. Renew your understanding of the Gift of the Holy Spirit (CCC 733-736, 1287) and the Desires of the Spirit (CCC 2541-2543) and pray for Christ to send the Holy Spirit to you to help on your path towards sainthood.

3) Denying Christ can be outright denial (e.g. “I reject Christ”) or to fail to oppose evil and/or to proclaim Christ to men (sins of omission). Realize your duty to Bear Witness to the Truth (CCC 1816, 2471-2474) and pray for Christ to send the Holy Spirit to “teach you…what you ought to say.”

Spiritual Practices – Include in Today’s Prayers

Sacred Mystery of Rosary – The Joyful Mysteries

Daily Devotion – The Blessed Virgin Mary

Virtue of the Day – Hope

Corporal Work of Mercy – To bury the dead

Spiritual Work of Mercy – To pray for the living and the dead