Daily Readings - Fri Sep 02 2022
1 Corinthians
1Accordingly, let man consider us to be ministers of Christ and attendants of the mysteries of God2Here and now, it is required of attendants that each one be found to be faithful3But as for me, it is such a small thing to be judged by you, or by the age of mankind. And neither do I judge myself4For I have nothing on my conscience. But I am not justified by this. For the Lord is the One who judges me5And so, do not choose to judge before the time, until the Lord returns. He will illuminate the hidden things of the darkness, and he will make manifest the decisions of hearts. And then each one shall have praise from God
Luke
33But they said to him, "Why do the disciples of John fast frequently, and make supplications, and those of the Pharisees act similarly, while yours eat and drink?34And he said to them: "How can you cause the sons of the groom to fast, while the groom is still with them35But the days will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast, in those days.36Then he also made a comparison for them: "For no one sews a patch from a new garment onto an old garment. Otherwise, he both disrupts the new one, and the patch from the new one does not join together with the old one37And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine ruptures the wineskins, and it will be poured out, and the wineskins will be lost38Instead, the new wine is put into new wineskins, and both are preserved39And no one who is drinking the old, soon wishes for the new. For he says, ‘The old is better.’
Sermon
Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, judgment, and the newness of God’s plan. In the first reading from 1 Corinthians, St. Paul humbly reminds us that we are but ministers of Christ, entrusted with the mysteries of God. He warns against judging others or ourselves prematurely, for it is the Lord who will ultimately judge us. Paul emphasizes faithfulness as the primary virtue for those who serve God, and he cautions against complacency, reminding us that our true worth is measured not by human standards but by God’s judgment.
In the Gospel, Jesus responds to criticism about his disciples’ lack of fasting by comparing himself to a groom celebrating with his friends. He explains that his presence brings joy, and fasting is unnecessary while he is with them. Jesus then uses two parables—the patch on the garment and the new wine in old wineskins—to illustrate that his message cannot be confined to the old ways of thinking. The newness of his teaching requires openness and a willingness to embrace change, rather than clinging to outdated traditions.
Together, these readings remind us that our faith is not about rigid rules or external appearances but about trusting in God’s plan and remaining open to the newness of life he offers. In a world that often values judgment and control, we are called to humility, faithfulness, and a willingness to let go of the old to embrace the new. Let us ask ourselves: Are we open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our lives? Do we trust in God’s judgment rather than our own? May we, like St. Paul, focus on being faithful servants, and may we, like Jesus’ disciples, embrace the joy and freedom of the Gospel with open hearts.