Daily Readings - Mon Oct 29 2018

Ephesians

Chapter 4

³²And be kind and merciful to one another, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you in Christ

¹Therefore, as most beloved sons, be imitators of God²And walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and delivered himself for us, as an oblation and a sacrifice to God, with a fragrance of sweetness³But let not any kind of fornication, or impurity, or rapacity so much as be named among you, just as is worthy of the saints⁴nor any indecent, or foolish, or abusive talk, for this is without purpose; but instead, give thanks⁵For know and understand this: no one who is a fornicator, or lustful, or rapacious (for these are a kind of service to idols) holds an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God⁶Let no one seduce you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God was sent upon the sons of unbelief⁷Therefore, do not choose to become participants with them⁸For you were darkness, in times past, but now you are light, in the Lord. So then, walk as sons of the light

Luke

Chapter 13

¹⁰Now he was teaching in their synagogue on the Sabbaths¹¹And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years. And she was bent over; and she was unable to look upwards at all¹²And when Jesus saw her, he called her to himself, and he said to her, "Woman, you are released from your infirmity.¹³And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was straightened, and she glorified God¹⁴Then, as a result, the ruler of the synagogue became angry that Jesus had cured on the Sabbath, and he said to the crowd: "There are six days on which you ought to work. Therefore, come and be cured on those, and not on the day of the Sabbath.¹⁵Then the Lord said to him in response: "You hypocrites! Does not each one of you, on the Sabbath, release his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it to water¹⁶So then, should not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for lo these eighteen years, be released from this restraint on the day of the Sabbath?¹⁷And as he was saying these things, all his adversaries were ashamed. And all the people rejoiced in everything that was being done gloriously by him

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are reminded of the call to live as children of light and to embrace the freedom and healing that Christ offers. The first reading from Ephesians exhorts us to live with kindness, mercy, and forgiveness, imitating God’s love. It warns us against allowing sin to take root in our lives, urging us instead to walk in the light of Christ. The Gospel from Luke presents a vivid scene of Jesus healing a woman bent over for eighteen years, despite the objections of the synagogue ruler who insists that healing should not happen on the Sabbath. Jesus’ response highlights the hypocrisy of valuing rules over human dignity, emphasizing that the Sabbath is a day for restoration and freedom, not just rigid observance. These readings are deeply connected in their emphasis on living out God’s will in love and compassion. The Ephesians passage calls us to a life of holiness and gratitude, while the Gospel reminds us that true holiness is not about strict adherence to rules but about serving others and bringing healing to those in need. Together, they challenge us to examine how we live out our faith—whether we prioritize love and mercy or get caught up in empty traditions and legalism. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are there areas in my life where I am bound by unnecessary constraints or habits that prevent me from living fully as a child of God? Am I willing to step out of my comfort zone to bring light and healing to others? May we, like the woman in the Gospel, experience the liberating touch of Christ and, in turn, become instruments of His love and freedom for others. Let us walk as children of the light, always mindful of the transformative power of God’s mercy and the call to live with compassion and joy.