Daily Readings - Tue Oct 30 2018
Ephesians
21Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ22Wives should be submissive to their husbands, as to the Lord23For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the Church. He is the Savior of his body24Therefore, just as the Church is subject to Christ, so also should wives be subject to their husbands in all things25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and handed himself over for her26so that he might sanctify her, washing her clean by water and the Word of life27so that he might offer her to himself as a glorious Church, not having any spot or wrinkle or any such thing, so that she would be holy and immaculate28So, too, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself29For no man has ever hated his own flesh, but instead he nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ also does to the Church30For we are a part of his body, of his flesh and of his bones31"For this reason, a man shall leave behind his father and mother, and he shall cling to his wife; and the two shall be as one flesh.32This is a great Sacrament. And I am speaking in Christ and in the Church33Yet truly, each and every one of you should love his wife as himself. And a wife should fear her husband
Luke
18And so he said: "To what is the kingdom of God similar, and to what figure shall I compare it19It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and cast into his garden. And it grew, and it became a great tree, and the birds of the air rested in its branches.20And again, he said: "To what figure shall I compare the kingdom of God21It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of fine wheat flour, until it was entirely leavened.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of relationships, growth, and the Kingdom of God. In the first reading from Ephesians, St. Paul writes about the relationship between husbands and wives, emphasizing mutual respect, love, and submission. He draws a profound analogy between the union of marriage and the union of Christ and the Church. Just as Christ loves and sacrifices for the Church, husbands are called to love their wives selflessly, and wives are called to respect and support their husbands. This passage reminds us that marriage is not just a human institution but a sacred reflection of God’s love and care for His people.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses two simple yet powerful parables to describe the Kingdom of God: the mustard seed and the leaven. The mustard seed, though small, grows into a great tree, providing shelter for the birds. The leaven, though hidden, transforms the entire batch of dough. These images teach us that the Kingdom of God is not about grandeur or immediate results but about small, consistent efforts that lead to transformation over time. Just as the leaven works quietly to change the dough, our faith and love can work quietly in the world to bring about God’s plan.
Both readings remind us that growth and transformation are gradual processes that require patience, love, and dedication. In our marriages, families, and communities, we are called to imitate Christ’s selfless love and to nurture one another with care and respect. Similarly, in our spiritual lives, we are called to trust in the slow but steady work of God’s grace, even when the results are not immediately visible. Let us ask for the grace to live out these teachings in our daily lives, trusting that our small acts of love and faithfulness can bring about great things in God’s time.