Saturday October 19, 2024
Good News Reflections:
Making scripture meaningful to your daily life
by Terry Modica
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. (Luke 12:10)
Good News Reflection for:
Saturday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time
October 19, 2024
Today’s Readings:
Ephesians 1:15-23
Psalm 8:2-7
Luke 12:8-12
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101924.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-october-19-2024
How to Recognize the Father’s Voice
This Saturday’s Gospel reading has a line that makes many of us wonder: “What is the unforgivable sin?” and “Have I done something that’s unforgivable?” and “Doesn’t this scripture contradict God’s mercy?”
To answer these questions, we need to know how to recognize the Father’s voice and silence the Evil Accuser.
When we hear any accusatory voice, we should never listen to it. Not at all. Never ever. It’s the sound of condemnation. If it makes you feel belittled, unworthy of love, undeserving of good things, unable to receive forgiveness, that’s not Father God speaking.
Whenever we hear the Father’s voice, we hear whatever is true in you, whatever is noble, what is right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy in you.
On the other hand, if the voice disagrees with Abba-Father’s nature and what he has said about you, reject it. It’s Satan accusing you. And he’s a liar. Jesus called him the father of lies (see John 8:44). Satan wants to undermine your relation with God the Father so that he can become your spiritual father.
For example, Abba-Father would never say to you, “You’re a sinner, therefore I do not love you.” Or, “You’re a failure.” Or, “You’re not good enough.” Nor would he ever communicate words of shame to you. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again because it’s so vital to your relationship with the Father: The Father created you as “good” (see Genesis 1:26-31). You were made in the image of God and he always sees the good in you. When he invites repentance, it is with encouragement, never shame.
There is no condemnation for us if we are in Christ Jesus, because Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and the punishment of death. He gave us his own Holy Spirit (see Romans 8:1-2), and therefore when the Father looks at us, he sees the Holy Spirit and he sees our desire to grow in holiness. Even if that desire is nearly imperceptible, he sees it. He smiles at you and embraces you and affirms what is good in you.
Only those who have no such desire should worry about condemnation. There are many who claim to believe in Jesus but, lacking a desire to be holy, they do not remain in him. They do not follow him. Even demons believe in Jesus — which is why they work so hard to pull us away from him.
This is the only unforgivable sin: To reject the desire to be holy. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin” (Mark 3:28-29 NIV). Heaven is only for the holy. No one who deliberately rejects holiness will want to spend eternity with God and the saints.
For help on your journey deeper into the truth of God’s love and mercy, get my 3-book series on The Father’s Heart @ enroutebooksandmedia.com/thefathersheartbookone. They are like having me for your personal spiritual director.
To see all my books, visit gnm.org/books-by-terry-modica.
© 2024 by Terry A. Modica
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