Daily Readings - Tue Sep 05 2017

First Reading - 1 Thessalonians 5.1-6, 9-11

¹But concerning dates and times, brothers, you do not need us to write to you²For you yourselves thoroughly understand that the day of the Lord shall arrive much like a thief in the night³For when they will say, "Peace and security!" then destruction will suddenly overwhelm them, like the labor pains of a woman with child, and they will not escape⁴But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that you would be overtaken by that day as by a thief⁵For all of you are sons of light and sons of daytime; we are not of nighttime, nor of darkness⁶Therefore, let us not sleep, as the rest do. Instead, we should be vigilant and sober⁹For God has not appointed us for wrath, but for the acquisition of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ¹⁰who died for us, so that, whether we watch, or whether we sleep, we may live in union with him¹¹Because of this, console one another and build up one another, just as you are doing

Gospel - Luke 4.31-37

Luke

Chapter 4

³¹And he descended to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And there he taught them on the Sabbaths³²And they were astonished at his doctrine, for his word was spoken with authority³³And in the synagogue, there was a man who had an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice³⁴saying: "Let us alone. What are we to you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know you who you are: the Holy One of God.³⁵And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent and depart from him." And when the demon had thrown him into their midst, he departed from him, and he no longer harmed him³⁶And fear fell over them all. And they discussed this among themselves, saying: "What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they depart.³⁷And his fame spread to every place in the region

Sermon

In today's readings, we are reminded of the importance of vigilance and trust in God's plan. The first reading from 1 Thessalonians urges us to be prepared for the Day of the Lord, which comes unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. It encourages us to stay alert, as we are children of light, and to support one another in our faith journey. The Gospel from Luke illustrates Jesus' authority and power as He casts out a demon, demonstrating His divine power and the reason for our hope. The context of these readings is rooted in early Christian communities preparing for the Second Coming and witnessing the manifestation of Jesus' divine authority. The Thessalonians were reassured that their destiny is salvation through Jesus, not wrath, while the people in Capernaum experienced firsthand Jesus' power over evil spirits. These events highlight the contrast between darkness and light, emphasizing our role as believers to live with awareness and trust in God's plan. In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to remain vigilant and mindful, trusting in Jesus' authority. Just as Jesus demonstrated power over evil, we can face life's challenges with confidence in His presence. We are called to live as children of light, supporting one another and staying alert, knowing that our ultimate hope is in salvation through Christ. This teaches us to approach each day with purpose and trust, embodying the light of Christ in our actions and interactions.