Daily Readings - Thu Aug 25 2022
1 Corinthians
1Paul, called as an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God; and Sosthenes, a brother2to the Church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints with all who are invoking the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place of theirs and of ours3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ4I give thanks to my God continuously for you because of the grace of God that has been given to you in Christ Jesus5By that grace, in all things, you have become wealthy in him, in every word and in all knowledge6And so, the testimony of Christ has been strengthened in you7In this way, nothing is lacking to you in any grace, as you await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ8And he, too, will strengthen you, even until the end, without guilt, until the day of the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ9God is faithful. Through him, you have been called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord
Matthew
42Therefore, be vigilant. For you do not know at what hour your Lord will return43But know this: if only the father of the family knew at what hour the thief would arrive, he would certainly keep vigil and not permit his house to be broken into44For this reason, you also must be prepared, for you do not know at what hour the Son of man will return45Consider this: who is a faithful and prudent servant, who has been appointed by his lord over his family, to give them their portion in due time46Blessed is that servant, if, when his lord has arrived, he shall find him doing so47Amen I say to you, he shall appoint him over all of his goods48But if that evil servant has said in his heart, ‘My lord has been delayed in returning,49and so, he begins to strike his fellow servants, and he eats and drinks with the inebriated50then the lord of that servant will arrive on a day that he does not expect, and at an hour that he does not know51And he shall separate him, and he shall place his portion with the hypocrites, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Sermon
In today's readings, we hear St. Paul expressing gratitude for the Corinthian church, acknowledging the grace and spiritual gifts they have received. He emphasizes their unity in Christ and their calling to holiness. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches about the importance of vigilance and faithfulness, using the parable of the servants to illustrate the need for preparedness for His return.
Both readings remind us of the importance of living with purpose and integrity. Paul highlights the gifts we have been given and our call to live as saints, while Jesus warns us to be ready for the unexpected, trusting in God's faithfulness. These teachings encourage us to remain faithful and responsible in our actions, knowing that our decisions have consequences.
In our daily lives, we are called to live with integrity and trust in God's strength. Let us embrace our responsibilities, remain vigilant, and trust in God's plan. By doing so, we live with purpose, ready to face whatever comes our way, secure in the knowledge of God's faithfulness and love.