Daily Readings - Mon Sep 12 2022
1 Corinthians
17Now I caution you, without praising, about this: that you assemble together, and not for better, but for worse18First of all, indeed, I hear that when you assemble together in the church, there are schisms among you. And I believe this, in part19For there must also be heresies, so that those who have been tested may be made manifest among you20And so, when you assemble together as one, it is no longer in order to eat the Lord’s supper21For each one first takes his own supper to eat. And as a result, one person is hungry, while another is inebriated22Do you not have houses, in which to eat and drink? Or do you have such contempt for the Church of God that you would confound those who do not have such contempt? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I am not praising you in this23For I have received from the Lord what I have also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the same night that he was handed over, took bread24and giving thanks, he broke it, and said: "Take and eat. This is my body, which shall be given up for you. Do this in remembrance of me.25Similarly also, the cup, after he had eaten supper, saying: "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord, until he returns33And so, my brothers, when you assemble together to eat, be attentive to one another
Luke
1And when he had completed all his words in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum2Now the servant of a certain centurion was dying, due to an illness. And he was very dear to him3And when he had heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, petitioning him, so that he would come and heal his servant4And when they had come to Jesus, they petitioned him anxiously, saying to him: "He is worthy that you should provide this to him5For he loves our nation, and he has built a synagogue for us.6Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying: "Lord, do not trouble yourself. For I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof7Because of this, I also did not consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant shall be healed8For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.9And upon hearing this, Jesus was amazed. And turning to the multitude following him, he said, "Amen I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.10And those who had been sent, upon returning to the house, found that the servant, who had been sick, was now healthy
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct scenarios that invite us to reflect on our approach to the sacred and our faith. The first reading from 1 Corinthians addresses the Corinthians' improper behavior during the Lord's Supper. Paul admonishes them for their selfishness and lack of reverence, reminding them of the Eucharist's profound significance as a proclamation of Christ's sacrifice. He emphasizes the need for self-examination and respect for the sacrament.
In contrast, the Gospel from Luke presents the centurion, a man of humility and faith. Despite his social standing, he recognizes his unworthiness and yet trusts in Jesus' power to heal his servant. His faith is not in his own merits but in God's grace, leading Jesus to commend him for his extraordinary faith.
These readings juxtapose two attitudes: the Corinthians' disrespect and the centurion's humility. They challenge us to approach sacred moments with reverence and selflessness. In our daily lives, let us embrace humility and faith, recognizing the grace offered to us. May we, like the centurion, approach God with hearts open to His will, and may we honor the sacred with the respect and gratitude it deserves.