Daily Readings - Sun Sep 11 2022

⁷Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: "Go, descend. Your people, whom you led away from the land of Egypt, have sinned⁸They have quickly withdrawn from the way which you revealed to them. And they have made for themselves a molten calf, and they have worshiped it. And immolating victims to it, they have said: ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who led you away from the land of Egypt.’ ⁹And again, the Lord said to Moses: "I discern that this people is stiff-necked¹⁰Release me, so that my fury may be enraged against them, and I may destroy them, and then I will make of you a great nation.¹¹Then Moses prayed to the Lord his God, saying: "Why, O Lord, is your fury enraged against your people, whom you led away from the land of Egypt, with great strength and with a mighty hand¹³Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your very self, saying: ‘I will multiply your offspring like the stars of heaven. And this entire land, about which I have spoken, I will give to your offspring. And you shall possess it forever.’ ¹⁴And the Lord was appeased from doing the evil which he had spoken against his people

1 Timothy

Chapter 1

¹²I give thanks to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he has considered me faithful, placing me in the ministry¹³though previously I was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and contemptuous. But then I obtained the mercy of God. For I had been acting ignorantly, in unbelief¹⁴And so the grace of our Lord has abounded greatly, with the faith and love that is in Christ Jesus¹⁵It is a faithful saying, and worthy of acceptance by everyone, that Christ Jesus came into this world to bring salvation to sinners, among whom I am first¹⁶But it was for this reason that I obtained mercy, so that in me as first, Christ Jesus would display all patience, for the instruction of those who would believe in him unto eternal life¹⁷So then, to the King of ages, to the immortal, invisible, solitary God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen

Luke

Chapter 15

¹Now tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to him, so that they might listen to him²And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This one accepts sinners and eats with them.³And he told this parable to them, saying⁴"What man among you, who has one hundred sheep, and if he will have lost one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the one whom he had lost, until he finds it⁵And when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing⁶And returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them: ‘Congratulate me! For I have found my sheep, which had been lost.⁷I say to you, that there will be so much more joy in heaven over one sinner repenting, than over the ninety-nine just, who do not need to repent⁸Or what woman, having ten drachmas, if she will have lost one drachma, would not light a candle, and sweep the house, and diligently search until she finds it⁹And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying: ‘Rejoice with me! For I have found the drachma, which I had lost.¹⁰So I say to you, there will be joy before the Angels of God over even one sinner who is repentant.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of sin, mercy, and the boundless love of God. In the first reading from Exodus, we see the Israelites turning away from God and worshipping a golden calf, an act of rebellion that provokes God’s anger. Yet, Moses intercedes for his people, reminding God of his promises to their ancestors and pleading for mercy. This passage highlights the tension between sin and forgiveness, showing that even in our failures, God’s faithfulness endures. The second reading from 1 Timothy offers a personal testimony of sin and redemption. Paul, once a persecutor of Christians, humbly acknowledges his past sins but rejoices in the mercy he has received through Christ. His words remind us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace, and that Christ came specifically to save sinners. The Gospel from Luke presents two parables that further illuminate the heart of God. The parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin reveal a God who actively seeks out the lost and rejoices when they are found. These stories are not just about sinners being forgiven; they are about the relentless love of a God who leaves no one behind. The Pharisees and scribes in the Gospel criticized Jesus for dining with sinners, but Jesus’ actions embody the very essence of his mission: to seek and save the lost. Together, these readings remind us that sin is not the end of the story. God’s mercy is always available, and his love is always seeking to restore us. In our daily lives, these readings call us to humility and openness to God’s grace. We are all sinners in need of mercy, and we are all called to extend that same mercy to others. Let us not be like the Pharisees, judging those who are struggling, but rather like the shepherd and the woman in the parables, who rejoice in the recovery of what was lost. May we approach life with the same patience and compassion that God shows us, trusting in his love and seeking to bring others closer to him.