Finding Shield in the Lord

Author: Chrisma C. Bangaoil
If God is with God, who can be against us?
Reflection Date: October 11, 2024 Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time 
Daily Readings: Galatians 3:7-14; Luke 11:15-26

We often hear the phrase, “If God is with us, who can be against us?” But today’s readings invite us to ask a deeper, often overlooked question: “Are we with God?” This is something we can easily forget.

We frequently call on God to be with us, yet our actions don’t always reflect that we are truly with Him. If we examine our priorities, how we spend our time, our desires, and how we treat others, do these align with being with God? Or do they reflect that we are more aligned with the world?

In the Gospel, Jesus makes a powerful statement: “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” To not be with God means we are living outside of His path. Consider, for instance, are we forgiving? Are we generous, even to those who cannot repay us? 

Do we reach out to the poor, the marginalized, and those in need? Do we attend Mass on Sundays out of genuine love for God, or merely out of obligation? What occupies our time and energy? Are these pursuits focused on God or consumed by worldly concerns?

Faith goes beyond simply following the law, as the first reading reminds us. When we love like Christ, we transcend the limitations of the law, because love cannot be confined by rules. Instead, we are moved by the Spirit, which frees us from being hindered by material limitations or structural inconveniences in fulfilling our mission. Why? Because it is the Lord who moves us.

Call to Action for Catholic Living: It is the Lord who gathers us, because we are with Him. Let us submit to His will and His ways, allowing His Spirit to guide our lives.