Daily Readings - Sat Sep 05 2020
1 Corinthians
6And so, brothers, I have presented these things in myself and in Apollo, for your sakes, so that you may learn, through us, that no one should be inflated against one person and for another, not beyond what has been written7For what distinguishes you from another? And what do you have that you have not received? But if you have received it, why do you glory, as if you had not received it8So, now you have been filled, and now you have been made wealthy, as if to reign without us? But I wish that you would reign, so that we, too, might reign with you9For I think that God has presented us as the last Apostles, as those destined for death. For we have been made into a spectacle for the world, and for Angels, and for men10So we are fools because of Christ, but you are discerning in Christ? We are weak, but you are strong? You are noble, but we are ignoble11Even to this very hour, we hunger and thirst, and we are naked and repeatedly beaten, and we are unsteady12And we labor, working with our own hands. We are slandered, and so we bless. We suffer and endure persecution13We are cursed, and so we pray. We have become like the refuse of this world, like the reside of everything, even until now14I am not writing these things in order to confound you, but in order to admonish you, as my dearest sons15For you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, but not so many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, through the Gospel, I have begotten you
Luke
1Now it happened that, on the second first Sabbath, as he passed through the grain field, his disciples were separating the ears of grain and eating them, by rubbing them in their hands2Then certain Pharisees said to them, "Why are you doing what is not lawful on the Sabbaths?3And responding to them, Jesus said: "Have you not read this, what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him4How he entered into the house of God, and took the bread of the Presence, and ate it, and gave it to those who were with him, though it is not lawful for anyone to eat it, except the priests alone?5And he said to them, "For the Son of man is Lord, even of the Sabbath.
Sermon
In today's readings, we hear St. Paul and Jesus offering profound insights into humility and service. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, reminds us that all we have is a gift from God, urging us to avoid pride and instead embrace humility. He shares his own experiences of hardship and persecution to illustrate that true strength lies in serving others, not in earthly comforts. This message is echoed in the Gospel where Jesus defends His disciples for picking grain on the Sabbath, using the example of David to highlight that human needs and compassion should sometimes take precedence over strict rules.
The context of these readings reveals the challenges faced by the early Christian communities. The Corinthian church was divided by pride and rivalry, prompting Paul to call for unity and humility. Similarly, Jesus faced criticism from the Pharisees who prioritized legalistic observance over people's needs. Both readings emphasize the importance of balancing rules with love and service, reminding us that our faith should be lived out in compassionate action.
Applying these teachings to our daily lives, we are called to remain humble, acknowledging God as the source of all blessings. We should approach each day with a heart of service, prioritizing the well-being of others and being compassionate. Just as Jesus showed that the Sabbath was made for humanity, not the other way around, we too should use our freedoms to uplift and care for one another. Let us reflect on how we can embody humility and compassion, allowing our faith to be a source of love and service in the world.