Daily Readings - Sat Oct 24 2020
Ephesians
7Yet to each one of us there has been given grace according to the measure allotted by Christ8Because of this, he says: "Ascending on high, he took captivity itself captive; he gave gifts to men.9Now that he has ascended, what is left except for him also to descend, first to the lower parts of the earth10He who descended is the same one who also ascended above all the heavens, so that he might fulfill everything11And the same one granted that some would be Apostles, and some Prophets, yet truly others evangelists, and others pastors and teachers12for the sake of the perfection of the saints, by the work of the ministry, in the edification of the body of Christ13until we all meet in the unity of faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as a perfect man, in the measure of the age of the fullness of Christ14So may we then no longer be little children, disturbed and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the wickedness of men, and by the craftiness which deceives unto error15Instead, acting according to truth in charity, we should increase in everything, in him who is the head, Christ himself16For in him, the whole body is joined closely together, by every underlying joint, through the function allotted to each part, bringing improvement to the body, toward its edification in charity
Luke
1And there were present, at that very time, some who were reporting about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate mixed with their sacrifices2And responding, he said to them: "Do you think that these Galileans must have sinned more than all other Galileans, because they suffered so much3No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you will all perish similarly4And those eighteen upon whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they also were greater transgressors than all the men living in Jerusalem5No, I tell you. But if you do not repent, you will all perish similarly.6And he also told this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree, which was planted in his vineyard. And he came seeking fruit on it, but found none7Then he said to the cultivator of the vineyard: ‘Behold, for these three years I came seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I have found none. Therefore, cut it down. For why should it even occupy the land?8But in response, he said to him: ‘Lord, let it be for this year also, during which time I will dig around it and add fertilizer9And, indeed, it should bear fruit. But if not, in the future, you shall cut it down.’
Sermon
In today’s readings, we hear about the call to grow in faith and unity as followers of Christ. The first reading from Ephesians reminds us that each of us has been given gifts by God, and these gifts are not for our own benefit but for the building up of the body of Christ. The passage emphasizes the importance of unity and maturity in the faith, warning us against being swayed by false teachings and encouraging us to live in love and truth, growing together in Christ. The Gospel from Luke, on the other hand, presents a parable about a fig tree that fails to bear fruit, along with a stern warning about the necessity of repentance. Jesus uses these examples to remind us that our lives must bear fruit in accordance with God’s will, and if we do not repent and turn to Him, we risk spiritual death.
The readings are connected by the theme of spiritual growth and accountability. In Ephesians, we are called to use our gifts to edify the Church and to mature in our faith, while in Luke, we are reminded that our lives must produce fruit worthy of repentance. The fig tree in the parable is given another chance, symbolizing God’s mercy and patience, but it also serves as a warning that we cannot indefinitely delay turning to Him. Together, these readings challenge us to examine our lives and ensure that we are living in a way that reflects our commitment to Christ.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Am I using the gifts God has given me to build up others and grow in holiness? Am I bearing fruit in my life through acts of love, compassion, and fidelity to God’s will? The call to repentance is not about fear but about returning to the Lord with humility and openness to His grace. Let us pray for the strength to live in truth and love, and for the wisdom to use the time God gives us to grow in holiness. May we, like the fig tree, respond to God’s mercy with fruitful lives that glorify Him.