21 October 2023 Only By Grace Reflections

NOTE: Please click the Subscribe key on YouTube and press the black notification bell to receive the daily reflections. Or, open in YouTube for easy access. View and Like. Thank you. TOPIC: IS OUR HOPE SECURELY PLACED IN CHRIST AND HIS VICTORY ON THE CROSS? First Reading: Romans 4: 13, 16-18 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 105: 6-7, 8-9, 42-43 Alleluia: John 15: 26b, 27a Gospel: Luke 12: 8-12 Jesus knows that His disciples will be tested, and He assures them that the Holy Spirit will give them what they need in their time of adversity. He warns them, however, that it's possible to spurn the grace of God and to give up the faith out of cowardice or disbelief.  The scriptural expression to deny someone means to disown them. Jesus also speaks against blaspheming the Holy Spirit.  What is blasphemy and why is it reprehensible? Blasphemy consists of uttering against God, inwardly or outwardly, words of hatred, reproach, or defiance.  It's contrary to the respect due God and His holy name.  Jesus speaks of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit as the unforgivable sin. Jesus spoke about this sin immediately after the scribes and Pharisees had attributed his miracles to the work of the devil instead of to God.  A sin can only be unforgivable if repentance is impossible.  If someone repeatedly closes his eyes to God and shuts his ears to his voice, he comes to a point where he can no longer recognize God when he can be seen, and when he sees evil as good and good as evil (Isaiah 5:20).  To fear such a sin, however, signals that one is not dead to God and is conscious of the need for God's grace and mercy. There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who refuses to accept His mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. God gives grace and help to all who humbly call upon Him. Giving up on God and refusing to turn away from sin and disbelief results from pride and the loss of hope in God. What is the basis of our hope and confidence in God? Jesus' death on the cross won for us our salvation and adoption as the children of God. The love and mercy of Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of sins, and the gift of the Holy Spirit are freely given to those who acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Is our hope securely placed in Christ and His victory on the Cross?   This is the 1275th installment of our CFC contemplation series focusing on the daily liturgical readings. [NOTE: As we continue to pray for Bro Bong Arjonillo’s healing and recovery, let us listen to our brother Solphie Confiado as he brings us today's reflection. All the regular reflections are between 3-7 minutes long, enough time for us to ponder what God's message is for us individually and to pray that we may live them out in our lives. This video is also available on Couples for Christ’s Facebook page. In You Tube, just type ONLY BY GRACE REFLECTIONS] #OnlyByGraceReflections #CFC #CouplesforChrist #FirstSaturdayMemorialoftheBlessedVirginMary