Daily Readings - Mon Oct 28 2019
Ephesians
19Now, therefore, you are no longer visitors and new arrivals. Instead, you are citizens among the saints in the household of God20having been built upon the foundation of the Apostles and of the Prophets, with Jesus Christ himself as the preeminent cornerstone21In him, all that has been built is framed together, rising up into a holy temple in the Lord22In him, you also have been built together into a habitation of God in the Spirit
Luke
12And it happened that, in those days, he went out to a mountain to pray. And he was in the prayer of God throughout the night13And when daylight had arrived, he called his disciples. And he chose twelve out of them (whom he also named Apostles)14Simon, whom he surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew15Matthew and Thomas, James of Alphaeus, and Simon who is called the Zealot16and Jude of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was a traitor17And descending with them, he stood in a level place with a multitude of his disciples, and a copious multitude of people from all of Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast, and Tyre and Sidon18who had come so that they might listen to him and be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled by unclean spirits were cured19And the entire crowd was trying to touch him, because power went out from him and healed all
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of our profound identity as believers. The Epistle to the Ephesians describes us as citizens in God's household, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone. This passage emphasizes our unity and collective role as a holy temple where God dwells. In the Gospel, Luke recounts Jesus prayerfully selecting the Twelve Apostles, forming a community that would carry His mission forward. This act is followed by Jesus healing many, demonstrating His divine power and compassion.
These readings highlight the importance of community and our place within it. Ephesians underscores our collective identity as a spiritual temple, while Luke illustrates the formation of a community through the Apostles. Together, they show that our faith is not solitary but lived within a body of believers, each contributing to the whole. Just as the Apostles were chosen to continue Jesus' work, we too are called to participate in God's plan.
In our daily lives, this means recognizing our role within the larger Christian community. We are called to support one another and be instruments of God's healing and love. As we go about our days, we should embrace our responsibility to contribute to the spiritual temple, whether through acts of kindness, prayer, or service. Let us live with the awareness that we are part of something greater, and may we be open to God's work through us, just as Jesus empowered the Apostles to spread His message.