Daily Readings - Mon Sep 09 2019
Colossians
24For now I rejoice in my passion on your behalf, and I complete in my flesh the things that are lacking in the Passion of Christ, for the sake of his body, which is the Church25For I have become a minister of the Church, according to the dispensation of God that has been given to me among you, so that I may fulfill the Word of God26the mystery which had remained hidden to past ages and generations, but which now is manifested to his saints27To them, God willed to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ and the hope of his glory within you28We are announcing him, correcting every man and teaching every man, with all wisdom, so that we may offer every man perfect in Christ Jesus29In him, too, I labor, striving according to his action within me, which he works in virtue
1For I want you to know the kind of solicitude that I have for you, and for those who are at Laodicea, as well as for those who have not seen my face in the flesh2May their hearts be consoled and instructed in charity, with all the riches of a plenitude of understanding, with knowledge of the mystery of God the Father and of Christ Jesus3For in him are hidden all treasures of wisdom and knowledge
Luke
6And it happened that, on another Sabbath, he entered into the synagogue, and he taught. And there was a man there, and his right hand was withered7And the scribes and Pharisees observed whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might thereby find an accusation against him8Yet truly, he knew their thoughts, and so he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Rise up and stand in the middle." And rising up, he stood still9Then Jesus said to them: "I ask you if it is lawful on the Sabbaths to do good, or to do evil? To give health to a life, or to destroy it?10And looking around at everyone, he said to the man, "Extend your hand." And he extended it. And his hand was restored11Then they were filled with madness, and they discussed with one another, what, in particular, they might do about Jesus
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on the mission of spreading God's word and the transformative power of love. The first reading from Colossians reveals St. Paul's deep commitment to his ministry, despite his sufferings. He sees his trials as a way to "complete what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ," not because Christ's sacrifice was insufficient, but because Paul's own life becomes an offering for the Church. He emphasizes that the mystery of God, once hidden, is now revealed through Christ, and he is called to announce this truth to all people, teaching and correcting them in wisdom so that they may be "perfect in Christ." Paul's passion for the Gospel shines through, even as he acknowledges the challenges of his mission.
The Gospel from Luke presents a vivid contrast between Jesus' compassion and the Pharisees' rigid adherence to the law. On the Sabbath, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand, despite knowing that the Pharisees are watching for any excuse to accuse him. His question to them—"Is it lawful to do good or evil on the Sabbath? To save a life or to destroy it?"—exposes the hypocrisy of their legalism. By healing the man, Jesus demonstrates that love and mercy must always take precedence over human rules. The Pharisees' anger reveals the hardness of their hearts, but Jesus' actions reveal the heart of God.
These readings remind us that our faith is not about following rules for their own sake but about living in love and service to others. Like Paul, we are called to embrace our own challenges as opportunities to grow in holiness and to share the Gospel with others. Like Jesus, we are called to act with compassion, even when it means going against the expectations of others. Let us reflect on how we can live more fully in this spirit of love and mission, allowing Christ to transform our hearts and our actions.