Daily Readings - Sun Sep 15 2019

⁷Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: "Go, descend. Your people, whom you led away from the land of Egypt, have sinned⁸They have quickly withdrawn from the way which you revealed to them. And they have made for themselves a molten calf, and they have worshiped it. And immolating victims to it, they have said: ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who led you away from the land of Egypt.’ ⁹And again, the Lord said to Moses: "I discern that this people is stiff-necked¹⁰Release me, so that my fury may be enraged against them, and I may destroy them, and then I will make of you a great nation.¹¹Then Moses prayed to the Lord his God, saying: "Why, O Lord, is your fury enraged against your people, whom you led away from the land of Egypt, with great strength and with a mighty hand¹³Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your very self, saying: ‘I will multiply your offspring like the stars of heaven. And this entire land, about which I have spoken, I will give to your offspring. And you shall possess it forever.’ ¹⁴And the Lord was appeased from doing the evil which he had spoken against his people

1 Timothy

Chapter 1

¹²I give thanks to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he has considered me faithful, placing me in the ministry¹³though previously I was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and contemptuous. But then I obtained the mercy of God. For I had been acting ignorantly, in unbelief¹⁴And so the grace of our Lord has abounded greatly, with the faith and love that is in Christ Jesus¹⁵It is a faithful saying, and worthy of acceptance by everyone, that Christ Jesus came into this world to bring salvation to sinners, among whom I am first¹⁶But it was for this reason that I obtained mercy, so that in me as first, Christ Jesus would display all patience, for the instruction of those who would believe in him unto eternal life¹⁷So then, to the King of ages, to the immortal, invisible, solitary God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen

Luke

Chapter 15

¹Now tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to him, so that they might listen to him²And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This one accepts sinners and eats with them.³And he told this parable to them, saying⁴"What man among you, who has one hundred sheep, and if he will have lost one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the one whom he had lost, until he finds it⁵And when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing⁶And returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them: ‘Congratulate me! For I have found my sheep, which had been lost.⁷I say to you, that there will be so much more joy in heaven over one sinner repenting, than over the ninety-nine just, who do not need to repent⁸Or what woman, having ten drachmas, if she will have lost one drachma, would not light a candle, and sweep the house, and diligently search until she finds it⁹And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying: ‘Rejoice with me! For I have found the drachma, which I had lost.¹⁰So I say to you, there will be joy before the Angels of God over even one sinner who is repentant.

Sermon

The readings today remind us of God’s boundless mercy and love for sinners, as well as his desire to seek out those who have wandered away from him. In the first reading from Exodus, Moses intercedes for the Israelites after they turn to idolatry by worshiping the golden calf. Despite their sin, God’s anger is calmed by Moses’ prayer, showing that even in our failures, God’s mercy triumphs. The second reading from 1 Timothy highlights Paul’s personal testimony of receiving God’s mercy despite his past as a persecutor of Christians. He humbly acknowledges that he was once a sinner but was transformed by God’s grace, emphasizing that Christ came to save sinners. The Gospel from Luke uses two parables—the lost sheep and the lost coin—to illustrate God’s joy in seeking and finding those who are lost. These parables challenge us to reflect on our own relationship with God and to see ourselves as both sinners in need of mercy and as agents of God’s love in the world. These readings are deeply connected by the theme of divine mercy and the call to repentance. The Exodus story shows God’s willingness to forgive his people even when they fail, while Paul’s testimony in 1 Timothy reminds us that none of us are beyond the reach of God’s grace. The parables in Luke’s Gospel extend this idea, teaching us that God actively seeks out the lost and rejoices when they return to him. Together, these readings invite us to reflect on our own sinfulness and to trust in God’s love, which is always ready to welcome us back. They also remind us that we are called to imitate God’s mercy by seeking out and loving those who feel lost or marginalized. In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to approach God with humility and openness, acknowledging our sins and trusting in his forgiveness. They also call us to be instruments of God’s mercy in the lives of others—whether through a kind word, a listening ear, or a willingness to forgive. Let us remember that we are all sinners in need of God’s grace, and that the greatest joy is not in being righteous but in repenting and returning to the Father’s love. May we, like Moses and Paul, intercede for others and share in the joy of God’s mercy, knowing that we are all part of his flock, his treasure, and his beloved children.