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Gospel Reading for October 17, 2026 – Luke 12: 8-12
ENOUGH COURAGE
Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. “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. When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”
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Perhaps the twelve disciples did not realize that Jesus was already speaking about what would happen when they were on their own, when Jesus would no longer be with them and they would be left to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15).
Perhaps he was preparing them for what was to come and assuring them that they should not worry because the Holy Spirit—his Spirit—would be with them.
When we think about the Christian martyrs who endured severe persecution and suffering to uphold the Faith, we realize that without the Holy Spirit, they would not have persevered. Because of their human frailties, they would not have had ENOUGH COURAGE to remain loyal to God.
Perhaps we will not suffer the same fate as the Christian martyrs, but when we are tempted by worldly cares to be disloyal to God, we can always rely on the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus assures us of this.
Let us ponder on this hymn – O ESPIRITU SANTO
O Espiritu Santo!
Manahan ka sa puso ko;
Nang malaman ang tunay
sa `di totoo;
Nang maging matatag sa
harap ng tukso.
O Espiritu Santo!
Manahan ka sa puso ko;
Nang sa Diyos ay laging
magpatotoo;
Nang kabanalan makamtan ko.
