Daily Readings - Sat Oct 28 2017

First Reading - Ephesians 2.19-22

¹⁹Now, therefore, you are no longer visitors and new arrivals. Instead, you are citizens among the saints in the household of God²⁰having been built upon the foundation of the Apostles and of the Prophets, with Jesus Christ himself as the preeminent cornerstone²¹In him, all that has been built is framed together, rising up into a holy temple in the Lord²²In him, you also have been built together into a habitation of God in the Spirit

Gospel - Luke 6.12-19

Luke

Chapter 6

¹²And it happened that, in those days, he went out to a mountain to pray. And he was in the prayer of God throughout the night¹³And when daylight had arrived, he called his disciples. And he chose twelve out of them (whom he also named Apostles)¹⁴Simon, whom he surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew¹⁵Matthew and Thomas, James of Alphaeus, and Simon who is called the Zealot¹⁶and Jude of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was a traitor¹⁷And descending with them, he stood in a level place with a multitude of his disciples, and a copious multitude of people from all of Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast, and Tyre and Sidon¹⁸who had come so that they might listen to him and be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled by unclean spirits were cured¹⁹And the entire crowd was trying to touch him, because power went out from him and healed all

Sermon

In today's readings, we are reminded of the profound truths about our identity and purpose as followers of Christ. The first reading from Ephesians 2:19-22 highlights our status as citizens in God's household, built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone. This passage emphasizes our unity and belonging within the body of Christ, where each member contributes to the construction of a holy temple in the Lord. The second reading from Luke 6:12-19 illustrates Jesus' prayerful selection of the twelve Apostles, followed by His ministry of healing and teaching to a multitude. This passage underscores Jesus' divine wisdom in choosing His disciples and His compassion in healing both physical and spiritual ailments. The context of Ephesians is a letter to the early Christian community, stressing the unity and solidarity of believers in Christ. It reminds us that we are not strangers but part of a larger family, with Christ as our foundation. In Luke, the context is Jesus' public ministry, where He prayerfully selects His disciples and begins His mission of preaching and healing. These readings relate to each other by emphasizing the importance of community and the role of Christ as the foundation and healer of that community. Applying this to our daily lives, we are called to recognize our role within the body of Christ and to support one another in building up the community. Just as the early church was built on a strong foundation, our lives should be grounded in faith, hope, and love. We are each called to be part of God's plan, using our unique gifts to contribute to the greater good. The moral lesson here is one of unity and purpose. We are all part of God's household, and our actions should reflect our commitment to building up the community and spreading the message of Christ. Let us strive to live as citizens of God's kingdom, united in our faith and purpose.