Daily Readings - Wed Nov 14 2018
Titus
1Admonish them to be subordinate to the rulers and authorities, to obey their dictates, to be prepared for every good work2to speak evil of no one, not to be litigious, but to be reserved, displaying all meekness toward all men3For, in times past, we ourselves were also unwise, unbelieving, erring, servants of various desires and pleasures, acting with malice and envy, being hateful and hating one another4But then the kindness and humanity of God our Savior appeared5And he saved us, not by works of justice that we had done, but, in accord with his mercy, by the washing of regeneration and by the renovation of the Holy Spirit6whom he has poured out upon us in abundance, through Jesus Christ our Savior7so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs according to the hope of eternal life
Luke
11And it happened that, while he was traveling to Jerusalem, he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee12And as he was entering a certain town, ten leprous men met him, and they stood at a distance13And they lifted up their voice, saying, "Jesus, Teacher, take pity on us.14And when he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And it happened that, as they were going, they were cleansed15And one of them, when he saw that he was cleansed, returned, magnifying God with a loud voice16And he fell face down before his feet, giving thanks. And this one was a Samaritan17And in response, Jesus said: "Were not ten made clean? And so where are the nine18Was no one found who would return and give glory to God, except this foreigner?19And he said to him: "Rise up, go forth. For your faith has saved you.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound lessons on grace, gratitude, and the transformation of the human heart. The first reading from Titus reminds us of our call to live virtuous lives, obeying authorities and avoiding malice, as we were once lost in sin but saved by God's mercy through the Holy Spirit. The Gospel from Luke narrates the healing of ten lepers, with only the Samaritan returning to thank Jesus, highlighting the importance of gratitude and faith.
The context of Titus is a pastoral letter guiding Christians on living harmoniously in society, emphasizing obedience and kindness. Luke's Gospel, set during Jesus' journey to Jerusalem, illustrates His compassionate ministry and the response of gratitude from a Samaritan, a foreigner, underscoring that true faith transcends boundaries.
Both readings intertwine the themes of God's grace and our response. Titus focuses on internal transformation through mercy, while Luke's narrative shows the external act of thanksgiving. This teaches us to acknowledge God's grace in our lives and respond with heartfelt gratitude. In our daily lives, let us practice thanksgiving, recognizing God's mercy and living virtuously, ensuring that our faith is not just in our hearts but also in our actions.