All Blessed in the Word

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to ponder our understanding of justification and how we are called “blessed” in our connection to Jesus. 

All Blessed in the Word

In the Letter to the Galatians, Paul proclaims what Faith Has Brought Us.

* [3:23–29] Paul adds a further argument in support of righteousness or justification by faith and through God’s promise rather than by works of the law (Gal 2:16; 3:22): as children of God, baptized into Christ, the Galatians are all Abraham’s descendant and heirs of the promise to Abraham (Gal 3:8, 14, 16–18, 29). The teaching in Gal 3:23–25, that since faith (Christianity) has come, we are no longer under the law, could be taken with the previous paragraph on the role of the Mosaic law, but it also fits here as a contrast between the situation before faith (Gal 3:23) and the results after faith has come (Gal 3:25–29).

* [3:24–25] Disciplinarian: the Greek paidagōgos referred to a slave who escorted a child to school but did not teach or tutor; hence, a guardian or monitor. Applying this to the law fits the role of the law described in Gal 3:19–25.

* [3:26] Children of God: literally “sons,” in contrast to the young child under the disciplinarian in Gal 3:24–25. The term includes males and females (Gal 3:28).

* [3:27–28] Likely a formula used at baptism that expresses racial, social-economic, and sexual equality in Christ (cf. Col 3:11).

* [3:27] Clothed yourselves with Christ: literally, “have put on Christ”; cf. Rom 13:14; Eph 4:24; Col 3:10. Baptismal imagery, traceable to the Old Testament (Jb 29:14; Is 59:17) but also found in pagan mystery cults. (Galatians, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 105 invites Israel to praise and seek the presence of God.

* [Psalm 105] A hymn to God who promised the land of Canaan to the holy people, cf. Ps 78; 106; 136. Israel is invited to praise and seek the presence of God (Ps 105:1–6), who is faithful to the promise of land to the ancestors (Ps 105:7–11). (Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB, n.d.)

 

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus proclaims True Blessedness.

* [11:27–28] The beatitude in Lk 11:28 should not be interpreted as a rebuke of the mother of Jesus; see note on Lk 8:21. Rather, it emphasizes (like Lk 2:35) that attentiveness to God’s word is more important than biological relationship to Jesus. (Luke, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB, n.d.)

Vivian Amu comments that these two readings come together. They paint a picture of a God who is always expanding the circle. They reveal a God who always moves towards inclusion.

Of course, inclusivity is more than agreeing that everyone matters. It requires action. It asks us to notice who is standing alone. It calls us to listen before we judge, to learn before we assume, to learn people’s names, to include a quiet voice in the conversation, and to make room for people whose experiences differ from our own.

So perhaps the question for us today is this: Who needs to hear through our words or actions that there is room beside us, and that there is room at our table? A person in our family, workplace, parish or neighborhood may be waiting for a sign that they belong.

Blessed are those who hear and keep hearing. Blessed are those who listen deeply enough to live differently. (Amu, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Blessings for hearing and keeping the Word,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Mary was more blessed in accepting the faith of Christ than in conceiving the flesh of Christ. To someone who said, 'Blessed is the womb that bore you,' he replied, 'Rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it.' Finally, for his brothers, his relatives according to the flesh who did not believe in him, of what advantage was that relationship? Even her maternal relationship would have done Mary no good unless she had borne Christ more happily in her heart than in her flesh." (excerpt from HOLY VIRGINITY 3.1) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the texts for today. Paul explains to the Galatians that before Jesus the Jews were under the Law. It was not a positive force but it acted as a guardian or custodian. Jesus has liberated us and destroyed division. All are able to be saved. In the Gospel text the people bless the womb that birthed Jesus. “Blessed are those who hear the Word and observe it” is the response of Jesus. In Luke, Mary is presented very honourably. Friar Jude comments that Luke proclaims her as the one who makes the Word her own, as she made Jesus present in the world through her faith and assent to the call of God.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Galatians 3:22-29 comments that as a Church, we are even more diverse today than the first-century Christians. Yet for all our differences, we are all wearing the same “uniform” because we are all clothed with Christ and filled with the same Spirit.

We may tend to focus on our differences more than on what we have in common. But that’s not how God sees us. Today in prayer, ask for the grace to see yourself and other believers the way he sees you—as his very own children, wearing the most beautiful clothing imaginable: the clothing of Christ!

“Father, help me to treasure the unity you have won for us in your Son!" (Meditation on Galatians 3:22-29, 2026)

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Keith Douglass Warner, Ilia Delio, and Pamela Wood who suggest that we can develop deep attentiveness to creation by following Francis’s example. Making choices to simplify our lives—to lessen our use of resources—is fundamental to developing a Franciscan ecological consciousness. 

Learning how to live in relationship is fundamental to following the patron saint of ecology. Francis was open to relationship—to receiving from all, whether leper, human brother and sister, worms, birds, bishops, water, fire, wind, or Blessed Mother Earth. Francis recognized the Incarnate Word of God in all living creatures. His openness meant he could recognize the blessing of being brother to all, and his response was humility. (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the Patience and Wisdom of the Spirit to apply Jesus' blessing of action in accord with the Word to our relationships with family, friends, and the people we encounter daily on our journey.

References

Amu, V. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-october-10-2026 

Galatians, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/3?22 

Luke, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/11? 

Meditation on Galatians 3:22-29. (2026, October 10). The Word Among Us. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/10/10/1690922/ 

Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/105?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Francis and the Natural World: Weekly Summary. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/francis-and-the-natural-world-weekly-summary/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Hear the Word of God and Keep It. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Judgement, Justice, and Justification

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to ponder our commitment to justice based on our faith and its connection to our justification.

Justice for All

Galatians 3.6-14 proclaims that justification comes by faith in Christ and in his death.

* [3:1–14] Paul’s contention that justification comes not through the law or the works of the law but by faith in Christ and in his death (Gal 2:16, 21) is supported by appeals to Christian experience (Gal 3:1–5) and to scripture (Gal 3:6–14). The gift of God’s Spirit to the Galatians came from the gospel received in faith, not from doing what the law enjoins. The story of Abraham shows that faith in God brings righteousness (Gal 3:6; Gn 15:6). The promise to Abraham (Gal 3:8; Gn 12:3) extends to the Gentiles (Gal 3:14).

* [3:6] Abraham…righteousness: see Gn 15:6; Rom 4:3. The Galatians like Abraham heard with faith and experienced justification. This first argument forms the basis for the further scriptural evidence that follows.

* [3:7–9] Faith is what matters, for Abraham and the children of Abraham, in contrast to the claims of the opponents that circumcision and observance of the law are needed to bring the promised blessing of Gn 12:3; cf. Gn 18:18; Sir 44:21; Acts 3:25.

* [3:10–14] Those who depend not on promise and faith but on works of the law are under a curse because they do not persevere in doing all the things written in the book of the law (Gal 3:10; Dt 27:26) in order to gain life (Gal 3:12; Lv 18:5; cf. Rom 10:5). But scripture teaches that no one is justified before God by the law (Gal 3:11; Heb 2:4, adapted from the Greek version of Habakkuk; cf. Rom 1:17; Heb 10:38). Salvation, then, depends on faith in Christ who died on the cross (Gal 3:13), taking upon himself a curse found in Dt 21:23 (about executed criminals hanged in public view), to free us from the curse of the law (Gal 3:13). That the Gentile Galatians have received the promised Spirit (Gal 3:14) by faith and in no other way returns the argument to the experience cited in Gal 3:1–5. (Galatians, CHAPTER 3 |USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 111 proclaims how God is revealed in Israel’s history.

* [Psalm 111] A Temple singer (Ps 111:1) tells how God is revealed in Israel’s history (Ps 111:2–10). The deeds reveal God’s very self, powerful, merciful, faithful. The poem is an acrostic, each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

* [111:1] In the assembled congregation of the upright: in the Temple, cf. Ps 149:1.

* [111:5] Food to those who fear him: probably a reference to the manna in the desert, which elsewhere is seen as a type of the Eucharist, cf. Jn 6:31–33, 49–51. (Psalms, PSALM 111 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke, presents Jesus and Beelzebul and The Return of the Unclean Spirit.

* [11:19] Your own people: the Greek reads “your sons.” Other Jewish exorcists (see Acts 19:13–20), who recognize that the power of God is active in the exorcism, would themselves convict the accusers of Jesus. See also note on Mt 12:27.

* [11:22] One stronger: i.e., Jesus. Cf. Lk 3:16 where John the Baptist identifies Jesus as “mightier than I.” (Luke, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB, n.d.)

Eileen Wirth comments that we know from our own lived experiences that being in a family can be messy.

This complexity comes from deep love and intimacy. These people have known you for your entire life and have been witness to all the good and not so good phases of your life. And therein lies the beauty of family.

In today’s gospel we are being called to delve into this same love and intimacy with God. We are being reminded that we are a part of a larger family that has unconditional love flowing from the center. And even though life is messy, and complicated, and difficult to grasp at times there is a place you can go and be seen and loved in all your imperfections. 

The challenge for us is to accept this membership and our other family members for their warts and flaws. Let us pray today to embrace the love and grace that comes with being a member of God’s family. Let’s practice acceptance and understanding as we work to love ourselves and others. (Wirth, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Jesus has conquered Satan,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).

"[Jesus] has conquered the ruler of this world. Having, so to speak, hamstrung him and stripped him of the power he possessed, he has given him over for a prey to his followers. He says, 'The strong man, being armed, guards his house; all his goods are in peace. But when one who is stronger than he shall come on him and overcome him, he takes away all his armor wherein he trusted and divides his spoil.' This is a plain demonstration and type of the matter depicted after the manner of human affairs... Before the coming of the Savior, he was in great power, driving and shutting up in his own stall flocks that were not his own but belonging to God over all. He was like some voracious and most insolent robber. Since the Word of God who is above all, the Giver of all might and Lord of powers attacked him, having become man, all his goods have been plundered and his spoil divided. Those of old who had been ensnared by him into ungodliness and error have been called by the holy apostles to the acknowledgment of the truth and been brought near to God the Father by faith in his Son."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 81) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the texts for today. The missionaries to the Galatians were Jewish Christians who criticized Paul as being anti-Jewish. So in this letter Paul uses midrash technique drawing a verse from here and a verse from there to make his argument. The children of Abraham, a man of faith had only three children and so Paul indicates they are children by faith not biologically. In midrash style Paul then quotes from a totally different book that proclaims lJesus took our curse upon itself. A verse from here and a verse from there is a midrash characteristic. In the Gospel of Luke Jesus is accused of healing by the power of Beelzebul. The Baal of Zebul and the Lord of the files are the origin of this name for the Devil. Friar Jude comments that after an exorcism “a house divided” cannot stand so If liberated a person has to take care of a demon returning with his friends.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 11:15-26 comments that Jesus’ words reveal something so fundamental but so often overlooked: the kingdom of God is not hidden. It’s obvious! You can see it in people being set free from the devil’s harassment or from the grip of disease. In sins being forgiven and the burden of guilt and shame being lifted. In broken relationships being restored, fears being released, anxiety melting into peace. In other words, you may not be able to give a perfectly worded theological definition of the kingdom, but you certainly can recognize it when you see it.

These are just some indications that the kingdom has come to you—there are many more. If you see any of them, rejoice that the Lord has opened your eyes! Rejoice, too, that he is calling you to be a living sign of the kingdom to the people around you. May the light of the kingdom shine through you so that other people can see it and believe!

“Jesus, may your kingdom come—as you work through me!” (Meditation on Luke 11:15-26, 2026)

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, reflects on Cherokee descendant Randy Woodley author of “Planting for the Seventh Generation: What Is Ours to Do” who responds to Francis of Assisi’s deathbed invitation, “I have done what was mine to do. May Christ teach you what is yours”. An old Indian saying puts it more bluntly: The worst thing that can be said about a person is, “He acts like he has no relatives.”

Sound familiar? This is essentially the operating system of Western capitalism—the worldview that treats land as inventory, water as delivery system, people as labor units, and the sick as revenue streams. Take what you can, discard the rest, and never ask who’s downstream.

What my ancestors practiced was the opposite. They understood that humans are the younger siblings in creation—that the plants, animals, waters, and stones have been here longer and know how things work. Our job is not to dominate but to listen, learn, and contribute to the wellbeing of the whole. That’s not metaphor. That’s a survival strategy developed over thousands of years of living in reciprocal relationship with the land.

The mystics have always known that the separate self is an illusion—that we are woven into one another and into creation. That what we do to the least of these, we do to the Sacred. Indigenous peoples have been practicing that truth in daily life for millennia, not as theology to be debated but as a way of being to be lived. It goes by various names, but I call it the Harmony Way….

This is what contemplation should lead to—vulnerability. Not withdrawal from the world but deeper engagement with it. Not escape from suffering but the willingness to sit with it long enough to see clearly what is ours to do. Vulnerability requires living reflectively with yourself but also living deeply into the whole community of creation—all your relatives. Reference:

Randy S. Woodley, “Planting for the Seventh Generation: What Is Ours to Do” ONEING 14, What Is Ours to Do?” (CAC Publishing, 2026): 100–101, 102. (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the inspiration of the Spirit to sharpen our judgement and seek justice as taught by Jesus and practiced faithfully as we work to honour our Baptismal Anointing as priest, prophet, and leader.

References

Galatians, CHAPTER 3 |USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/3?7 

Luke, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/11? 

Meditation on Luke 11:15-26. (2026, October 8). The Word Among Us. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/10/08/1689572/ 

Psalms, PSALM 111 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/111?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Listen, Learn, and Contribute. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/listen-learn-and-contribute/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). If It Is by the Finger of God. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Wirth, E. (n.d.). Daily Reflections | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections 

Faith Praise and Prayer

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite our contemplation of the relationship between prayer and our life as Christians.

Faith Praise and Prayer

1st Reading: Galatians 3.1-5 Justification by Faith

* [3:1–14] Paul’s contention that justification comes not through the law or the works of the law but by faith in Christ and in his death (Gal 2:16, 21) is supported by appeals to Christian experience (Gal 3:1–5) and to scripture (Gal 3:6–14). The gift of God’s Spirit to the Galatians came from the gospel received in faith, not from doing what the law enjoins. The story of Abraham shows that faith in God brings righteousness (Gal 3:6; Gn 15:6). The promise to Abraham (Gal 3:8; Gn 12:3) extends to the Gentiles (Gal 3:14).

* [3:1] Stupid: not just senseless, for they were in danger of deserting their salvation.

* [3:2] Faith in what you heard: Paul’s message received with faith. The Greek can also mean “the proclamation of the faith” or “a hearing that comes from faith.”

* [3:3] On the contrast of Spirit and flesh, cf. Rom 8:1–11. Having received the Spirit, they need not be circumcised now.

* [3:4] Experience so many things: probably the mighty deeds of Gal 3:5 but possibly the experience of sufferings. (Galatians, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

Response from Luke 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75 The Canticle of Zechariah.

* [1:68–79] Like the canticle of Mary (Lk 1:46–55) the canticle of Zechariah is only loosely connected with its context. Apart from Lk 1:76–77, the hymn in speaking of a horn for our salvation (Lk 1:69) and the daybreak from on high (Lk 1:78) applies more closely to Jesus and his work than to John. Again like Mary’s canticle, it is largely composed of phrases taken from the Greek Old Testament and may have been a Jewish Christian hymn of praise that Luke adapted to fit the present context by inserting Lk 1:76–77 to give Zechariah’s reply to the question asked in Lk 1:66.

* [1:69] A horn for our salvation: the horn is a common Old Testament figure for strength (Ps 18:3; 75:5–6; 89:18; 112:9; 148:14). This description is applied to God in Ps 18:3 and is here transferred to Jesus. The connection of the phrase with the house of David gives the title messianic overtones and may indicate an allusion to a phrase in Hannah’s song of praise (1 Sm 2:10), “the horn of his anointed.” (Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke 11.5-13 Further Teachings on Prayer The Answer to Prayer

* [11:1–13] Luke presents three episodes concerned with prayer. The first (Lk 11:1–4) recounts Jesus teaching his disciples the Christian communal prayer, the “Our Father”; the second (Lk 11:5–8), the importance of persistence in prayer; the third (Lk 11:9–13), the effectiveness of prayer.

* [11:13] The holy Spirit: this is a Lucan editorial alteration of a traditional saying of Jesus (see Mt 7:11). Luke presents the gift of the holy Spirit as the response of the Father to the prayer of the Christian disciple. (Luke, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB, n.d.)

Patrick Borchers asks So what does Jesus mean?  

I think Jesus means that God understands our hearts better than we do ourselves.  If we open our hearts, we will receive what we really want and need, even if it’s not exactly what we might think we want and need. (Borchers, 2026)

Don Schwager quotes “Ask by praying, seek by proper living, knock by persevering,” by Bede the Venerable, 672-735 A.D.

"Desiring that we arrive at the joys of the heavenly kingdom, our Lord and Savior taught us to ask these joys of him and promised that he would give them to us if we asked for them. 'Ask,' he said, 'and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.' Dearly beloved..., we earnestly and with our whole heart must ponder these words of our Lord. He bears witness that the kingdom of heaven is not given to, found by and opened to those who are idle and unoccupied but to those who ask for it, seek after it and knock at its gates. The gate of the kingdom must be asked for by praying. It must be sought after by living properly. It must be knocked at by persevering." (excerpt from HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 2.51.20)(Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winker comments on the texts for today.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Galatians 3:1-5 (Meditation on Galatians 3:1-5, 2026)

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, reflects on how Francis and Bonaventure recognized the natural world as the place through which we learn to witness and love God.

We express our gratitude to the Spirit of God that reassures our fullness of life is in following the Way of Jesus.

References

Borchers, P. (2026, October 8). So what does Jesus mean? Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved October 8, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-october-8-2026 

Galatians, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved October 8, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/3?1 

Luke, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 8, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/11? 

Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved October 8, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/1?69 

Meditation on Galatians 3:1-5. (2026, October 8). The Word Among Us. Retrieved October 8, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/10/08/1689572/ 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Praying with Creation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 8, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/praying-with-creation/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). How Much More Will the Heavenly Father Give! Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 8, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/