Daily Readings - Tue Oct 15 2019

¹⁶For I am not ashamed of the Gospel. For it is the power of God unto salvation for all believers, the Jew first, and the Greek¹⁷For the justice of God is revealed within it, by faith unto faith, just as it was written: "For the just one lives by faith.¹⁸For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven over every impiety and injustice among those men who fend off the truth of God with injustice¹⁹For what is known about God is manifest in them. For God has manifested it to them²⁰For unseen things about him have been made conspicuous, since the creation of the world, being understood by the things that were made; likewise his everlasting virtue and divinity, so much so that they have no excuse²¹For although they had known God, they did not glorify God, nor give thanks. Instead, they became weakened in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was obscured²²For, while proclaiming themselves to be wise, they became foolish²³And they exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of flying things, and of four-legged beasts, and of serpents²⁴For this reason, God handed them over to the desires of their own heart for impurity, so that they afflicted their own bodies with indignities among themselves²⁵And they exchanged the truth of God for a lie. And they worshipped and served the creature, rather than the Creator, who is blessed for all eternity. Amen

Luke

Chapter 11

³⁷And as he was speaking, a certain Pharisee asked him to eat with him. And going inside, he sat down to eat³⁸But the Pharisee began to say, thinking within himself: "Why might it be that he has not washed before eating?³⁹And the Lord said to him: "You Pharisees today clean what is outside the cup and the plate, but what is inside of you is full of plunder and iniquity⁴⁰Fools! Did not he who made what is outside, indeed also make what is inside⁴¹Yet truly, give what is above as alms, and behold, all things are clean for you

Sermon

In today's readings, we explore themes of faith, hypocrisy, and inner purity. The First Reading from Romans emphasizes the power of the Gospel and the consequences of turning away from God. Paul highlights how humanity, despite knowing God, often rejects Him, leading to spiritual decay and worshiping creation over the Creator. This serves as a reminder of the universal need for salvation through faith. The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus confronting a Pharisee's concern over outward rituals, such as washing before eating. Jesus points out the hypocrisy of focusing on appearances while neglecting inner righteousness. He teaches that true purity comes from within, suggesting that giving alms can cleanse the heart, emphasizing the importance of sincere actions over mere rituals. These readings relate by contrasting outward appearances with inner faith. Romans warns against spiritual decay from rejecting God, while Luke's Jesus critiques hypocrisy, urging us to focus on inner purity. In daily life, this means prioritizing integrity and genuine faith over superficial displays. The moral lesson is clear: true faith is about the heart, not rituals. Let us strive to live with sincerity, ensuring our actions reflect our beliefs, and focus on nurturing our inner selves to achieve true purity.