Daily Readings - Tue Sep 11 2018

¹How is it that anyone of you, having a dispute against another, would dare to be judged before the iniquitous, and not before the saints²Or do you not know that the saints from this age shall judge it? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you unworthy, then, to judge even the smallest matters³Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more the things of this age⁴Therefore, if you have matters to judge concerning this age, why not appoint those who are most contemptible in the Church to judge these things⁵But I am speaking so as to shame you. Is there no one among you wise enough, so that he might be able to judge between his brothers⁶Instead, brother contends against brother in court, and this before the unfaithful⁷Now there is certainly an offense among you, beyond everything else, when you have court cases against one another. Should you not accept injury instead? Should you not endure being cheated instead⁸But you are doing the injuring and the cheating, and this toward brothers⁹Do you not know that the iniquitous will not possess the kingdom of God? Do not choose to wander astray. For neither fornicators, nor servants of idolatry, nor adulterers¹⁰nor the effeminate, nor males who sleep with males, nor thieves, nor the avaricious, nor the inebriated, nor slanderers, nor the rapacious shall possess the kingdom of God¹¹And some of you were like this. But you have been absolved, but you have been sanctified, but you have been justified: all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God

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 importance of living as children of light and the transformative power of God’s grace in our lives. The first reading from 1 Corinthians challenges us to reflect on how we handle conflicts and disputes. Paul is distressed that the Corinthians are taking their disagreements to secular courts rather than resolving them within the community of faith. He reminds them that as believers, we are called to live according to a higher standard, one that reflects the wisdom and justice of God. Paul also lists various vices that exclude people from the kingdom of God, but he quickly adds that some of the Corinthians once lived in such ways—until they were washed clean, sanctified, and justified in Christ. This is a powerful reminder that our past does not define us; it is through Christ that we are made new. The Gospel reading from Luke shifts our focus to Jesus’ ministry. After a night of prayer, Jesus selects the Twelve Apostles, entrusting them with a special mission. This moment highlights the importance of prayer in discerning God’s will and the significance of community in carrying out God’s work. When Jesus descends to the crowd, he heals the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits. The people are drawn to him because they sense the power of God at work in him. This scene invites us to reflect on our own relationship with Jesus. Do we turn to him in times of need? Do we trust in his power to heal and transform us? Both readings call us to live as people of faith and integrity. In our daily lives, we are to resolve conflicts in a way that reflects the love and justice of God. We are to trust in his power to transform us and to use us for his purposes. Let us ask ourselves: Are we living as children of light, or are we still walking in darkness? Do we turn to God in prayer when faced with decisions or challenges? May we, like the Corinthians, allow the grace of God to transform us, and may we, like the apostles, be willing to follow Jesus wherever he leads.