Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 10, 2022
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 10.14-22a
14Because of this, most beloved of mine, flee from the worship of idols15Since I am speaking to those who are prudent, judge what I say for yourselves16The cup of benediction that we bless, is it not a communion in the Blood of Christ? And the bread that we break, is it not a participation in the Body of the Lord17Through the one bread, we, though many, are one body: all of us who are partakers of the one bread18Consider Israel, according to the flesh. Are not those who eat from the sacrifices partakers of the altar19What is next? Should I say that what is immolated to idols is anything? Or that the idol is anything20But the things that the Gentiles immolate, they immolate to demons, and not to God. And I do not want you to become partakers with demons21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons. You cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord, and partakers of the table of demons22Or should we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he is? All is lawful to me, but not all is expedient
Psalm 116
1Alleluia. I have loved: therefore, the Lord will heed the voice of my prayer2For he has inclined his ear to me. And in my days, I will call upon him3The sorrows of death have surrounded me, and the perils of Hell have found me. I have found tribulation and sorrow4And so, I called upon the name of the Lord. O Lord, free my soul5Merciful is the Lord, and just. And our God is compassionate6The Lord is the keeper of little ones. I was humbled, and he freed me7Turn again, my soul, to your rest. For the Lord has done good to you8For he has rescued my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from slipping9I will please the Lord in the land of the living10Alleluia. I had confidence, because of what I was saying, but then I was greatly humbled11I said in my excess, "Every man is a liar.12What shall I repay to the Lord, for all the things that he has repaid to me13I will take up the cup of salvation, and I will call upon the name of the Lord14I will repay my vows to the Lord, in the sight of all his people15Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his holy ones16O Lord, because I am your servant, your servant and the son of your handmaid, you have broken my bonds17I will sacrifice to you the sacrifice of praise, and I will invoke the name of the Lord18I will repay my vows to the Lord in the sight of all his people19in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem
Gospel: Luke 6.43-49
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
In today's readings, we explore profound teachings from St. Paul and Jesus, both emphasizing the importance of living a life rooted in faith and integrity.
First, St. Paul addresses the Corinthian church, urging them to avoid idolatry and to fully embrace the Eucharist as a communion with Christ. He warns against the dangers of idolatrous practices, which can lead to spiritual corruption, and reminds us that our participation in the Eucharist is a sacred bond with Christ. This teaching serves as a reminder to examine our priorities and ensure that our hearts are not divided between God and worldly desires.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the tree and its fruits to illustrate that true faith is demonstrated through actions, not just words. He teaches that a life built on His teachings is like a house founded on rock, able to withstand life's challenges. Conversely, a life that hears His words but does not act is like a house built on sand, vulnerable to collapse. This parable challenges us to reflect on how we live out our faith in daily life.
These readings connect by highlighting the necessity of authenticity and integrity in our faith. St. Paul warns against superficial religious practices, while Jesus emphasizes the importance of putting faith into action. In our daily lives, this means not just attending church but also living according to Christ's teachings. It means avoiding the idolatry of modern distractions and instead prioritizing a deep, personal relationship with God.
As we reflect on these teachings, let us consider how we can build a strong spiritual foundation. May we strive to live a life that truly reflects our faith, bearing fruit through our actions and choices, and may we always seek to deepen our communion with Christ.