Daily Readings - Sat Oct 23 2021
Romans
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who are not walking according to the flesh2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has freed me from the law of sin and death3For though this was impossible under the law, because it was weakened by the flesh, God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and because of sin, in order to condemn sin in the flesh4so that the justification of the law might be fulfilled in us. For we are not walking according to the flesh, but according to the spirit5For those who are in agreement with the flesh are mindful of the things of the flesh. But those who are in agreement with the spirit are mindful of the things of the spirit6For the prudence of the flesh is death. But the prudence of the spirit is life and peace7And the wisdom of the flesh is inimical to God. For it is not subject to the law of God, nor can it be8So those who are in the flesh are not able to please God9And you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if it is true that the Spirit of God lives within you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him10But if Christ is within you, then the body is indeed dead, concerning sin, but the spirit truly lives, because of justification11But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead lives within you, then he who raised up Jesus Christ from the dead shall also enliven your mortal bodies, by means of his Spirit living within you
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 encounter two powerful messages that invite us to reflect on our spiritual lives. The first reading from Romans reminds us of the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. Paul explains that through Christ, we are no longer bound by the flesh but are set free to live according to the Spirit. This life in the Spirit brings peace and justification, and it is through the Spirit that our mortal bodies can be enlivened. The Gospel, however, presents a different tone. Jesus responds to tragic events by emphasizing the importance of repentance. He warns that suffering does not necessarily indicate greater sin but rather serves as a call for all to turn away from sin. The parable of the fig tree reinforces this message, illustrating God’s patience and mercy, giving us time to bear fruit through repentance and care.
The readings complement each other by highlighting the necessity of spiritual transformation. Romans focuses on the internal change brought by the Spirit, while the Gospel emphasizes the external response of repentance. Together, they remind us that living a fruitful and Spirit-led life requires both inner renewal and outward conversion. The context of Romans is one of theological reflection, explaining the benefits of life in Christ, while Luke’s Gospel is set in a more urgent tone, with Jesus addressing the crowds and using parables to drive home the importance of repentance.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to examine our relationship with God and our neighbors. Are we living according to the flesh or the Spirit? Are we bearing fruit in our lives, or are we standing stagnant like the unproductive fig tree? The moral lesson here is clear: repentance and spiritual renewal are not one-time events but ongoing processes. Just as the fig tree is given another chance to bear fruit, we too are given the opportunity to turn our lives around and live in a way that reflects the Spirit of God. Let us embrace this mercy and strive to live lives that are fruitful and pleasing to God.