Daily Readings - Mon Oct 19 2020
Ephesians
1And you were once dead in your sins and offenses2in which you walked in times past, according to the age of this world, according to the prince of the power of this sky, the spirit who now works in the sons of distrust3And we too were all conversant in these things, in times past, by the desires of our flesh, acting according to the will of the flesh and according to our own thoughts. And so we were, by nature, sons of wrath, even like the others4Yet still, God, who is rich in mercy, for the sake of his exceedingly great charity with which he loved us5even when we were dead in our sins, has enlivened us together in Christ, by whose grace you have been saved6And he has raised us up together, and he has caused us to sit down together in the heavens, in Christ Jesus7so that he may display, in the ages soon to arrive, the abundant wealth of his grace, by his goodness toward us in Christ Jesus8For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not of yourselves, for it is a gift of God9And this is not of works, so that no one may glory10For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works which God has prepared and in which we should walk
Luke
13And someone from the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.14But he said to him, "Man, who has appointed me as judge or arbitrator over you?15So he said to them: "Be cautious and wary of all avarice. For a person’s life is not found in the abundance of the things that he possesses.16Then he spoke to them using a comparison, saying: "The fertile land of a certain wealthy man produced crops17And he thought within himself, saying: ‘What should I do? For I have nowhere to gather together my crops.18And he said: ‘This is what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build larger ones. And into these, I will gather all the things that have been grown for me, as well as my goods19And I will say to my soul: Soul, you have many goods, stored up for many years. Relax, eat, drink, and be cheerful.20But God said to him: ‘Foolish one, this very night they require your soul of you. To whom, then, will those things belong, which you have prepared?21So it is with him who stores up for himself, and is not wealthy with God.
Sermon
In today's readings, we hear powerful messages about grace, wealth, and the true nature of our existence. The first reading from Ephesians reminds us that we were once dead in our sins, but through God’s immense mercy and grace, we have been brought to life in Christ. This passage emphasizes that our salvation is a gift from God, not something we can earn through our own efforts. It invites us to recognize that we are God’s handiwork, created for good works, and to live in a way that reflects the abundant grace we have received.
The Gospel from Luke offers a stark contrast to this spiritual wealth. Jesus tells the parable of the rich man who becomes so focused on accumulating possessions that he forgets the true purpose of his life. The man’s obsession with storing up wealth leads to his spiritual poverty, and in the end, he loses everything that truly matters. This story warns us against the dangers of greed and materialism, urging us to examine where we place our trust and security.
Together, these readings call us to reflect on our priorities. Ephesians encourages us to embrace the grace of God and live as people transformed by His love. Luke’s parable challenges us to let go of our attachment to material possessions and instead seek true wealth in our relationship with God. In our daily lives, this means trusting in God’s providence, using the resources we have to serve others, and remembering that our ultimate inheritance is not in this world but in the life to come. Let us strive to live with hearts that are rich in faith, generosity, and love, rather than being consumed by the fleeting allure of earthly wealth.