Homily for Thursday
Week 27 of Ordinary Time
Oct. 8, 2026
Gal 3: 1-5
Luke 11: 5-13
Collect
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence,
N.R.
“Does the one who supplies the Spirit to you and works mighty deeds among you do so from works of the Law or from faith in what you heard?” (Gal 3: 5).
Paul is
exasperated. If his Galatian flock is
reverting to the Law of Moses as their path to salvation, then they’re turning
away from faith in what Christ does for us.
The Gospel is that the cross and resurrection and our faith in their
power work the pardon of our sins and obtain eternal life for us. Salvation itself is a mighty deed worked
among us by the Spirit. Paul undoubtedly
refers also to mighty deeds like healings, tongues, exorcisms, and even curses
(he does some of that in both Acts of the Apostles and his Corinthian letters).
Our good works
don’t win grace for us. The Holy Spirit
and grace are God’s gift to us.
This week’s
collect, addressed to God the Father as usual, reaffirms that: “Your kindness surpasses the merits of those
who entreat you.” Your mercy pardons the
guilt that disturbs our consciences.
The collect also
implies that we don’t dare to ask for that pardon. Jesus’ teaching on prayer today says
otherwise: “Ask, and you will receive”
(Luke 11:9). The Father wants to
give us the Holy Spirit, the Spirit who in Jesus’ name forgives our sins.
In gratitude, we
respond to the Father’s gift with our prayers of praise, especially the
Eucharist, and with good works—works inspired by grace.
