Daily Readings - Mon Oct 25 2021
Romans
11But 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 you12Therefore, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, so as to live according to the flesh13For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if, by the Spirit, you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live14For all those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God15And you have not received, again, a spirit of servitude in fear, but you have received the Spirit of the adoption of sons, in whom we cry out: "Abba, Father!16For the Spirit himself renders testimony to our spirit that we are the sons of God17But if we are sons, then we are also heirs: certainly heirs of God, but also co-heirs with Christ, yet in such a way that, if we suffer with him, we shall also be glorified with him
Luke
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 encounter powerful messages of liberation and the transformative power of God's Spirit. The first reading from Romans reminds us that through the Spirit of God, we are no longer bound by the flesh but are called to live as children of God, heirs to eternal life. This Spirit not only gives us life but also adopts us into God's family, where we can confidently call Him "Abba, Father." The second reading from Luke's Gospel illustrates this liberation through the story of a woman healed by Jesus on the Sabbath. Despite the objections of the synagogue leaders, Jesus emphasizes that freedom from suffering is a divine priority, even on the Sabbath.
The connection between these readings lies in their focus on true freedom. In Romans, this freedom is from the slavery of sin and death, while in Luke, it is freedom from physical and spiritual bondage. Both readings challenge us to recognize that God's Spirit is always at work, bringing life and wholeness. The woman's healing on the Sabbath underscores Jesus' mission to free us from all forms of captivity, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. This mirrors the Romans passage, where the Spirit's power leads to a life of sonship and inheritance.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Where am I still held captive? Is it by fear, sin, or doubt? The readings invite us to trust in God's power to transform and liberate us. Just as the woman was healed and glorified God, we too can experience the Spirit's work in our lives. Let us embrace our identity as children of God and live in the freedom that comes from His Spirit. In doing so, we become partakers of His glory, both now and in eternity.