Daily Readings - Tue Oct 27 2020
Ephesians
21Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ22Wives should be submissive to their husbands, as to the Lord23For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the Church. He is the Savior of his body24Therefore, just as the Church is subject to Christ, so also should wives be subject to their husbands in all things25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and handed himself over for her26so that he might sanctify her, washing her clean by water and the Word of life27so that he might offer her to himself as a glorious Church, not having any spot or wrinkle or any such thing, so that she would be holy and immaculate28So, too, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself29For no man has ever hated his own flesh, but instead he nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ also does to the Church30For we are a part of his body, of his flesh and of his bones31"For this reason, a man shall leave behind his father and mother, and he shall cling to his wife; and the two shall be as one flesh.32This is a great Sacrament. And I am speaking in Christ and in the Church33Yet truly, each and every one of you should love his wife as himself. And a wife should fear her husband
Luke
18And so he said: "To what is the kingdom of God similar, and to what figure shall I compare it19It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and cast into his garden. And it grew, and it became a great tree, and the birds of the air rested in its branches.20And again, he said: "To what figure shall I compare the kingdom of God21It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of fine wheat flour, until it was entirely leavened.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of relationships and the transformative power of God’s grace. In the first reading from Ephesians, St. Paul writes about the relationship between husbands and wives, emphasizing mutual respect and love. He calls wives to submit to their husbands as a reflection of the Church’s submission to Christ, and he urges husbands to love their wives with the same self-giving love that Christ has for the Church. This passage is often misunderstood, but its heart is not about hierarchy; it’s about mutual surrender and care, rooted in the belief that marriage is a sacrament that reflects the union of Christ and his Church.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses two parables to describe the Kingdom of God: the mustard seed and the leaven. The mustard seed, though small, grows into a great tree, providing shelter for the birds. The leaven, though hidden, transforms the entire batch of dough. These images remind us that God’s Kingdom often begins in small, unnoticed ways, but it has the power to transform and grow into something extraordinary. Like the mustard seed and leaven, our faith may seem insignificant at times, but it can have a profound impact when nurtured and allowed to grow.
Both readings encourage us to trust in the slow, often invisible work of God’s grace in our lives. Just as the mustard seed and leaven require time and patience to fulfill their purpose, our relationships and our faith require us to be patient, nurturing, and open to growth. In our marriages, families, and friendships, we are called to imitate Christ’s self-giving love, even when it’s challenging. And in our spiritual lives, we are reminded that even the smallest acts of faith can lead to great transformations. Let us ask for the grace to live with humility, patience, and love, allowing God’s Kingdom to take root and flourish in our hearts and in the world around us.