Daily Readings - Mon Oct 26 2020

Ephesians

Chapter 4

³²And be kind and merciful to one another, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you in Christ

¹Therefore, as most beloved sons, be imitators of God²And walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and delivered himself for us, as an oblation and a sacrifice to God, with a fragrance of sweetness³But let not any kind of fornication, or impurity, or rapacity so much as be named among you, just as is worthy of the saints⁴nor any indecent, or foolish, or abusive talk, for this is without purpose; but instead, give thanks⁵For know and understand this: no one who is a fornicator, or lustful, or rapacious (for these are a kind of service to idols) holds an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God⁶Let no one seduce you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God was sent upon the sons of unbelief⁷Therefore, do not choose to become participants with them⁸For you were darkness, in times past, but now you are light, in the Lord. So then, walk as sons of the light

Luke

Chapter 13

¹⁰Now he was teaching in their synagogue on the Sabbaths¹¹And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years. And she was bent over; and she was unable to look upwards at all¹²And when Jesus saw her, he called her to himself, and he said to her, "Woman, you are released from your infirmity.¹³And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was straightened, and she glorified God¹⁴Then, as a result, the ruler of the synagogue became angry that Jesus had cured on the Sabbath, and he said to the crowd: "There are six days on which you ought to work. Therefore, come and be cured on those, and not on the day of the Sabbath.¹⁵Then the Lord said to him in response: "You hypocrites! Does not each one of you, on the Sabbath, release his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it to water¹⁶So then, should not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for lo these eighteen years, be released from this restraint on the day of the Sabbath?¹⁷And as he was saying these things, all his adversaries were ashamed. And all the people rejoiced in everything that was being done gloriously by him

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are reminded of the transformative power of God’s love and the call to live as children of light. The first reading from Ephesians urges us to embrace kindness, forgiveness, and purity, warning us against the darkness of sin and the emptiness of worldly desires. It calls us to imitate God by walking in love, just as Christ loved us and sacrificed himself for us. The second reading from Luke presents a vivid scene of Jesus healing a woman on the Sabbath, which sparks controversy with the synagogue ruler. Jesus’ compassionate act challenges the rigid observance of the law, emphasizing that God’s mercy and healing know no bounds—not even the Sabbath. The connection between these readings lies in their emphasis on living according to God’s will and prioritizing love and compassion over human traditions. Ephesians reminds us that our actions should reflect our identity as children of light, while Luke’s Gospel shows us that true freedom and healing come from God’s grace, not from adherence to rules for their own sake. Both readings call us to examine our hearts and actions, ensuring that they align with the love and mercy of Christ. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we living as children of light, or are we still walking in darkness? Do we allow God’s love to transform us, or do we cling to habits and attitudes that separate us from him? Let us strive to imitate Christ by showing compassion to those around us, even when it challenges the status quo. May we embrace the freedom of living in God’s light and share that light with a world in need of his love and healing.