Readings: Thursday, October 9, 2014

First Reading: Gal 3:1–5

O stupid Galatians! 
Who has bewitched you, 
          before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 
I want to learn only this from you: 
          did you receive the Spirit from works of the law, 
          or from faith in what you heard? 
Are you so stupid? 
After beginning with the Spirit, 
          are you now ending with the flesh? 
Did you experience so many things in vain?– 
          if indeed it was in vain. 
Does, then, 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?

Responsorial Psalm: Luke 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75

R./ Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior, 
          born of the house of his servant David. 
R./ Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old 
          that he would save us from our enemies, 
          from the hands of all who hate us. 
R./ Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers 
          and to remember his holy covenant. 
R./ Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: 
          to set us free from the hands of our enemies, 
          free to worship him without fear, 
          holy and righteous in his sight 
          all the days of our life. 
R./ Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

Gospel Reading: Lk 11:5-13

Jesus said to his disciples, "Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to his house in the middle of the night and says: 'Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine who is traveling has just arrived and I have nothing to offer him.' Maybe your friend will answer from inside: 'Don't bother me now; the door is locked and my children and I are in bed, so I can't get up and give you anything.' But I tell you, even though he will not get up and attend to you because you are a friend, yet he will get up because you are a bother to him, and he will give you all you need.

"And so I say to you, 'Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For the one who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to him who knocks the door will be opened.

"If your child asks for a fish, will you give a snake instead? And if your child asks for an egg, will you give a scorpion? Even you evil people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more then will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those who ask him!"