Daily Readings - Sat Sep 11 2021
1 Timothy
15It is a faithful saying, and worthy of acceptance by everyone, that Christ Jesus came into this world to bring salvation to sinners, among whom I am first16But it was for this reason that I obtained mercy, so that in me as first, Christ Jesus would display all patience, for the instruction of those who would believe in him unto eternal life17So then, to the King of ages, to the immortal, invisible, solitary God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen
Luke
43For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor does an evil tree produce good fruit44For each and every tree is known by its fruit. For they do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather the grape from the bramble bush45A good man, from the good storehouse of his heart, offers what is good. And an evil man, from the evil storehouse, offers what is evil. For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks46But why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I say47Anyone who comes to me, and listens to my words, and does them: I will reveal to you what he is like48He is like a man building a house, who has dug deep and has laid the foundation upon the rock. Then, when the floodwaters came, the river was rushing against that house, and it was not able to move it. For it was founded upon the rock49But whoever hears and does not do: he is like a man building his house upon the soil, without a foundation. The river rushed against it, and it soon fell down, and the ruin of that house was great.
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the transformative power of God’s mercy and the importance of living a life rooted in faith. In the first reading from 1 Timothy, St. Paul humbly acknowledges himself as the foremost of sinners, yet he emphasizes that it was precisely through God’s mercy that he was transformed. This transformation was not just for his own sake but to serve as an example for others, showing that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. The reading concludes with a beautiful doxology, praising God’s eternal glory and invisible nature, highlighting the majesty and mystery of the divine.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the connection between our hearts and our actions. He uses the metaphor of trees and their fruit to illustrate that the quality of our actions reflects the state of our hearts. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and an evil tree cannot bear good fruit. Jesus then challenges us to examine our relationship with His teachings. He distinguishes between those who merely call Him “Lord” and those who truly listen to and act on His words. The parable of the two builders drives this point home: the one who builds on rock (obedience to God’s will) endures life’s storms, while the one who builds on sand (disobedience or superficial faith) faces ruin.
These readings call us to reflect on the authenticity of our faith. Like St. Paul, we are all sinners in need of God’s mercy, but that mercy is not just a gift—it’s a call to transformation. Jesus invites us to move beyond superficial devotion and instead build our lives on the solid foundation of His teachings. In our daily lives, this means not just hearing the Word of God but also putting it into practice. Let us ask ourselves: Are our actions consistent with our faith? Are we building our lives on the rock of obedience to Christ, or are we settling for a shallow faith that cannot withstand life’s challenges? May we strive to live in such a way that the fruit of our lives reflects the goodness of God’s grace at work within us.