Daily Readings - Tue Sep 04 2018
1 Corinthians
10But God has revealed these things to us through his Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God11And who can know the things that are of a man, except the spirit which is within that man? So also, no one knows the things which are of God, except the Spirit of God12But we have not received the spirit of this world, but the Spirit who is of God, so that we may understand the things that have been given to us by God13And we are also speaking of these things, not in the learned words of human wisdom, but in the doctrine of the Spirit, bringing spiritual things together with spiritual things14But the animal nature of man does not perceive these things that are of the Spirit of God. For it is foolishness to him, and he is not able to understand it, because it must be examined spiritually15But the spiritual nature of man judges all things, and he himself may be judged by no man16For who has known the mind of the Lord, so that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ
Luke
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 encounter profound truths about the nature of God's revelation and the authority that comes from the Spirit. The First Reading from 1 Corinthians reminds us that the Spirit of God reveals divine truths to us, truths that surpass human wisdom. Paul emphasizes that without the Spirit, we cannot grasp the depths of God's mysteries. This passage invites us to humbly acknowledge our reliance on the Holy Spirit for understanding and guidance in our faith journey.
The Gospel from Luke vividly illustrates Jesus' authority, both in His teaching and in His power over evil spirits. When Jesus casts out the demon, the people are amazed, recognizing that His authority comes not from human skill but from God. This episode shows us that true power and wisdom are gifts from the Father, and they are meant to bring liberation and hope to those bound by sin and fear.
As we reflect on these readings, we are called to trust in the Holy Spirit's guidance in our lives. Just as Jesus acted with authority, we too can face life's challenges with confidence, knowing that the Spirit equips us to discern and act according to God's will. Let us pray for the grace to embrace spiritual wisdom and to live as people of faith, trusting in God's plan and power in all we do.