Daily Readings - Mon Oct 17 2022
Ephesians
1And you were once dead in your sins and offenses2in which you walked in times past, according to the age of this world, according to the prince of the power of this sky, the spirit who now works in the sons of distrust3And we too were all conversant in these things, in times past, by the desires of our flesh, acting according to the will of the flesh and according to our own thoughts. And so we were, by nature, sons of wrath, even like the others4Yet still, God, who is rich in mercy, for the sake of his exceedingly great charity with which he loved us5even when we were dead in our sins, has enlivened us together in Christ, by whose grace you have been saved6And he has raised us up together, and he has caused us to sit down together in the heavens, in Christ Jesus7so that he may display, in the ages soon to arrive, the abundant wealth of his grace, by his goodness toward us in Christ Jesus8For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not of yourselves, for it is a gift of God9And this is not of works, so that no one may glory10For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works which God has prepared and in which we should walk
Luke
13And someone from the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.14But he said to him, "Man, who has appointed me as judge or arbitrator over you?15So he said to them: "Be cautious and wary of all avarice. For a person’s life is not found in the abundance of the things that he possesses.16Then he spoke to them using a comparison, saying: "The fertile land of a certain wealthy man produced crops17And he thought within himself, saying: ‘What should I do? For I have nowhere to gather together my crops.18And he said: ‘This is what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build larger ones. And into these, I will gather all the things that have been grown for me, as well as my goods19And I will say to my soul: Soul, you have many goods, stored up for many years. Relax, eat, drink, and be cheerful.20But God said to him: ‘Foolish one, this very night they require your soul of you. To whom, then, will those things belong, which you have prepared?21So it is with him who stores up for himself, and is not wealthy with God.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of grace, wealth, and the true nature of our relationship with God. The first reading from Ephesians reminds us that we are saved not by our own works, but by God’s grace. It emphasizes that our salvation is a gift, and we are called to live as God’s handiwork, created for good works. This passage encourages us to trust in God’s providence and to recognize that our worth is not measured by what we do, but by the love God has shown us in Christ.
The Gospel from Luke presents a stark contrast with the parable of the rich fool. A man, consumed by his wealth, builds larger barns to store his possessions, only to have his life demanded of him that very night. Jesus warns us against the dangers of greed and the illusion that our lives are secure because of what we own. The parable challenges us to examine our priorities and to recognize that true wealth lies in our relationship with God, not in material possessions.
Together, these readings remind us that our ultimate security and happiness do not come from what we accumulate, but from living in accordance with God’s will. We are called to trust in His grace, to live with gratitude for the gifts we have been given, and to use them in service to others. Let us reflect on our own lives and ask ourselves: Are we storing up treasures on earth, or are we building a treasure in heaven? May we strive to live with hearts that are rich in God, rather than consumed by the fleeting allure of this world.