Daily Readings - Sun Sep 30 2018

²⁵And the Lord descended in a cloud, and he spoke to him, taking from the Spirit which was in Moses, and giving to the seventy men. And when the Spirit had rested in them, they prophesied; nor did they cease afterwards²⁶Now there had remained in the camp two of the men, of whom one was called Eldad, and the other Medad, upon whom the Spirit rested; for they also had been enrolled, but they did not go forth to the tabernacle²⁷And when they were prophesying in the camp, a boy ran and reported to Moses, saying: "Eldad and Medad prophesy in the camp.²⁸Promptly, Joshua the son of Nun, the minister of Moses and chosen from many, said: "My lord Moses, prohibit them.²⁹But he said, "Why are you jealous on my behalf? Who decides that any of the people may prophesy and that God may give to them his Spirit?

James

Chapter 5

¹Act now, you who are wealthy! Weep and wail in your miseries, which will soon come upon you²Your riches have been corrupted, and your garments have been eaten by moths³Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be a testimony against you, and it will eat away at your flesh like fire. You have stored up wrath for yourselves unto the last days⁴Consider the pay of the workers who reaped your fields: it has been misappropriated by you; it cries out. And their cry has entered into the ears of the Lord of hosts⁵You have feasted upon the earth, and you have nourished your hearts with luxuries, unto the day of slaughter⁶You led away and killed the Just One, and he did not resist you

Mark

Chapter 9

³⁸John responded to him by saying, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name; he does not follow us, and so we prohibited him.³⁹But Jesus said: "Do not prohibit him. For there is no one who can act with virtue in my name and soon speak evil about me⁴⁰For whoever is not against you is for you⁴¹For whoever, in my name, will give you a cup of water to drink, because you belong to Christ: Amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward⁴²And whoever will have scandalized one of these little ones who believe in me: it would be better for him if a great millstone were placed around his neck and he were thrown into the sea⁴³And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off: it is better for you to enter into life disabled, than having two hands to go into Hell, into the unquenchable fire⁴⁵But if your foot causes you to sin, chop it off: it is better for you to enter into eternal life lame, than having two feet to be cast into the Hell of unquenchable fire⁴⁷But if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out: it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into the Hell of fire⁴⁸where their worm does not die, and the fire is not extinguished

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages about inclusivity, justice, and the consequences of our actions. The first reading from Numbers reminds us of Moses’ wisdom when he refuses to restrict the Spirit’s movement. Eldad and Medad, though not among the chosen seventy, prophesied, teaching us that God’s gifts are not confined to the few. Moses’ response highlights trust in God’s generosity and the importance of not stifling the Spirit. James’ epistle offers a stark warning to the wealthy, urging them to recognize the transient nature of material wealth. He condemns the exploitation of workers and the indulgence in luxuries, emphasizing that true wealth lies in humility and justice. This reading challenges us to reflect on how we use our resources and whether we prioritize the well-being of others. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about inclusivity and the seriousness of sin. He tells the disciples not to hinder someone working in His name, even if they are not part of their group. This promotes unity and recognition of God’s work beyond our immediate circles. Jesus then warns against causing scandal, using dramatic imagery to stress the importance of moral integrity. Together, these readings guide us to live with openness, generosity, and moral vigilance. They encourage us to embrace others’ gifts, use our resources justly, and avoid actions that harm others. The moral lesson is clear: live humbly, act with integrity, and trust in God’s plan, allowing His Spirit to work through all people.