Daily Readings - Sat Oct 31 2020

¹⁸But what does it matter? As long as, by every means, whether under pretext or in truthfulness, Christ is announced. And about this, I rejoice, and moreover, I will continue to rejoice¹⁹For I know that this will bring me to salvation, through your prayers and under the ministration of the Spirit of Jesus Christ²⁰by means of my own expectation and hope. For in nothing shall I be confounded. Instead, with all confidence, now just as always, Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death²¹For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain²²And while I live in the flesh, for me, there is the fruit of works. But I do not know which I would choose²³For I am constrained between the two: having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, which is the far better thing²⁴but then to remain in the flesh is necessary for your sake²⁵And having this confidence, I know that I shall remain and that I shall continue to remain with all of you, for your advancement and for your joy in the faith²⁶so that your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus for me, through my return to you again

Luke

Chapter 14

¹And it happened that, when Jesus entered the house of a certain leader of the Pharisees on the Sabbath to eat bread, they were observing him⁷Then he also told a parable, to those who were invited, noticing how they chose the first seats at the table, saying to them⁸"When you are invited to a wedding, do not sit down in the first place, lest perhaps someone more honored than yourself may have been invited by him⁹And then he who called both you and him, approaching, may say to you, ‘Give this place to him.’ And then you would begin, with shame, to take the last place¹⁰But when you are invited, go, sit down in the lowest place, so that, when he who invited you arrives, he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the sight of those who sit at table together with you¹¹For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the virtues of humility and trust in God’s providence. The first reading from Philippians finds St. Paul in prison, yet his spirit remains unbroken. He rejoices because, despite his confinement, the Gospel is being preached, and he is confident that God will bring good out of his suffering. Paul’s trust in God’s plan is unwavering, and he sees his situation not as an end but as an opportunity for Christ to be glorified. His words remind us that our ultimate goal is to live and die for Christ, knowing that true life is found in Him. The Gospel from Luke presents a parable that underscores the importance of humility. Jesus observes how guests at a banquet rush to take the places of honor, only to risk being humiliated if someone more distinguished arrives. He teaches that true greatness comes not from seeking recognition but from embracing humility. This lesson challenges us to examine our own attitudes and behaviors, especially in social settings. It reminds us that humility is not about self-deprecation but about recognizing our place and letting God exalt us in His time. Together, these readings call us to live with humility and trust in God’s plan. Like Paul, we may face challenges or setbacks, but we can rejoice knowing that God works through all things for our good. And like the guests in the parable, we are invited to embrace humility, not for the sake of appearances, but as a way of life. Let us strive to live in such a way that Christ is magnified in us, whether in times of trial or in our everyday interactions. May we find joy in trusting God’s plan and in living with the humility that reflects the heart of Christ.