Daily Readings - Tue Nov 12 2019

Wisdom

Chapter 2

²³For God created man to be immortal, and he made him in the image of his own likeness²⁴But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world²⁵yet they imitate him, who are from his side

¹But the souls of the just are in the hand of God and no torment of death will touch them²In the eyes of the foolish, they seemed to die, and their departure was considered an affliction³and their going away from us, a banishment. Yet they are in peace⁴And though, in the sight of men, they suffered torments, their hope is full of immortality⁵Troubled in few things, in many things they will be well compensated, because God has tested them and found them worthy of himself⁶Like gold in the furnace, he has proved them, and as a holocaust victim, he has received them, and in the time of their visitatio⁷they will shine, and they will dash about like sparks among stubble⁸They will judge the nations and they will rule over the people, and their Lord will reign forever⁹Those who trust in him, will understand the truth, and those who are faithful in love will rest in him, because grace and peace is for his elect

Luke

Chapter 17

⁷But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, would say to him, as he was returning from the field, ‘Come in immediately; sit down to eat,⁸and would not say to him: ‘Prepare my dinner; gird yourself and minister to me, while I eat and drink; and after these things, you shall eat and drink?⁹Would he be grateful to that servant, for doing what he commanded him to do¹⁰I think not. So too, when you have done all these things that have been taught to you, you should say: ‘We are useless servants. We have done what we should have done.’

Sermon

In today's readings, we explore profound truths about our existence and our relationship with God. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom reminds us that God created humanity for immortality, and though death entered the world through the devil's envy, the righteous find peace in God's hands. Their suffering is temporary, and they will ultimately shine, judging nations and reigning with the Lord. This passage reassures us that our struggles are not in vain and that trust in God leads to eternal peace. The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus teaching on humility and service. Using the parable of the servant, Jesus illustrates that serving without expectation of praise is a duty, not a cause for reward. This challenges us to embrace a life of selfless service, reflecting our commitment to God without seeking earthly recognition. Both readings converge on themes of trust and humble service. While the first reading addresses the ultimate glory of the righteous, the Gospel emphasizes the nature of our service. Together, they teach us to trust in God's plan and to serve humbly, recognizing that our true reward lies in eternal life. In our daily lives, these teachings encourage us to face challenges with faith, knowing our struggles have divine purpose. We are called to serve others selflessly, reflecting our duty to God. The moral lesson is clear: our worth is in our faithfulness, not earthly rewards. Let us embrace humility and trust, serving with hearts open to God's will, knowing our efforts contribute to a greater purpose.