Daily Readings - Tue Nov 13 2018
Titus
1But you are to speak the things that befit sound doctrine2Old men should be sober, chaste, prudent, sound in faith, in love, in patience3Old women, similarly, should be in holy attire, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teaching well4so that they may teach prudence to the young women, so that they may love their husbands, love their children5be sensible, chaste, restrained, have concern for the household, be kind, be subordinate to their husbands: so that the Word of God may be not blasphemed6Exhort young men similarly, so that they may show self-restraint7In all things, present yourself as an example of good works: in doctrine, with integrity, with seriousness8with sound words, irreproachably, so that he who is an opponent may dread that he has nothing evil to say about us11For the grace of God our Savior has appeared to all men12instructing us to reject impiety and worldly desires, so that we may live soberly and justly and piously in this age13looking forward to the blessed hope and the advent of the glory of the great God and of our Savior Jesus Christ14He gave himself for our sake, so that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse for himself an acceptable people, pursuers of good works
Luke
7But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, would say to him, as he was returning from the field, ‘Come in immediately; sit down to eat,8and would not say to him: ‘Prepare my dinner; gird yourself and minister to me, while I eat and drink; and after these things, you shall eat and drink?9Would he be grateful to that servant, for doing what he commanded him to do10I think not. So too, when you have done all these things that have been taught to you, you should say: ‘We are useless servants. We have done what we should have done.’
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the importance of living out our faith with integrity, humility, and a deep commitment to serving others. The first reading from Titus emphasizes the need for all members of the Christian community—old and young, men and women—to live in a way that reflects sound doctrine and moral virtue. It calls us to self-control, kindness, and a life of good works, not for personal gain or recognition, but because it is who we are as followers of Christ. The Gospel from Luke complements this message by highlighting the attitude with which we should serve. Jesus teaches us that true service is not about seeking praise or gratitude but about faithfully fulfilling our duties as disciples. When we have done all that is required of us, we should humbly acknowledge that we have only done what was expected of us.
The readings are deeply connected in their emphasis on living out our faith in a way that is both virtuous and humble. Titus provides a broader vision of what it means to live a life shaped by the Gospel, while Luke narrows in on the posture of the heart that should accompany such a life. Together, they remind us that our faith is not just about what we believe but about how we live. The grace of God, as Titus says, has appeared to all people, instructing us to live soberly, justly, and devoutly in this age. This grace is not just a gift to us but also a call to live in a way that reflects the transformative power of God in our lives.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves how we are living out our faith in our daily lives. Are we striving to be examples of integrity and virtue in our families, workplaces, and communities? Do we serve others with humility, recognizing that our efforts are not for our own glory but for the glory of God? Let us embrace the call to live as people who are “zealous for good works,” not seeking praise but simply doing what is right because we belong to Christ. In doing so, we fulfill our duty as His disciples and bear witness to the grace that has been given to us.