Daily Readings - Sat Oct 22 2022
Ephesians
7Yet to each one of us there has been given grace according to the measure allotted by Christ8Because of this, he says: "Ascending on high, he took captivity itself captive; he gave gifts to men.9Now that he has ascended, what is left except for him also to descend, first to the lower parts of the earth10He who descended is the same one who also ascended above all the heavens, so that he might fulfill everything11And the same one granted that some would be Apostles, and some Prophets, yet truly others evangelists, and others pastors and teachers12for the sake of the perfection of the saints, by the work of the ministry, in the edification of the body of Christ13until we all meet in the unity of faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as a perfect man, in the measure of the age of the fullness of Christ14So may we then no longer be little children, disturbed and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the wickedness of men, and by the craftiness which deceives unto error15Instead, acting according to truth in charity, we should increase in everything, in him who is the head, Christ himself16For in him, the whole body is joined closely together, by every underlying joint, through the function allotted to each part, bringing improvement to the body, toward its edification in charity
Luke
1And there were present, at that very time, some who were reporting about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate mixed with their sacrifices2And responding, he said to them: "Do you think that these Galileans must have sinned more than all other Galileans, because they suffered so much3No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you will all perish similarly4And those eighteen upon whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they also were greater transgressors than all the men living in Jerusalem5No, I tell you. But if you do not repent, you will all perish similarly.6And he also told this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree, which was planted in his vineyard. And he came seeking fruit on it, but found none7Then he said to the cultivator of the vineyard: ‘Behold, for these three years I came seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I have found none. Therefore, cut it down. For why should it even occupy the land?8But in response, he said to him: ‘Lord, let it be for this year also, during which time I will dig around it and add fertilizer9And, indeed, it should bear fruit. But if not, in the future, you shall cut it down.’
Sermon
In today's readings, we hear from Ephesians and Luke, both of which offer profound insights into our spiritual journey. The Ephesians passage emphasizes the gifts given by Christ to each of us, fostering unity and growth within the body of Christ. It reminds us that our diverse roles are meant to build up the church and bring us closer to Christ. In Luke, Jesus uses the parable of the fig tree to illustrate God's patience, urging us to repent and bear spiritual fruit, while acknowledging the time and care needed for growth.
These readings connect through themes of growth and responsibility. Ephesians highlights the importance of unity and using our gifts to serve others, while Luke's parable underscores the patience and nurturing required for spiritual growth. Together, they remind us that our faith is both a gift and a call to action, requiring us to tend to our spiritual lives and support one another in our journey towards Christ.
Applying this to our daily lives, we are called to use our talents wisely and be patient with ourselves and others. We must recognize the value of community and the role each person plays in the larger body of Christ. The moral lesson here is the balance between patience and accountability, encouraging us to strive for spiritual growth while embracing the unity and diversity of our faith. Let us serve others with our gifts and work together for the common good, ever mindful of God's patience and our responsibility to bear fruit in our lives.