Daily Readings - Tue Oct 25 2022
Ephesians
21Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ22Wives should be submissive to their husbands, as to the Lord23For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the Church. He is the Savior of his body24Therefore, just as the Church is subject to Christ, so also should wives be subject to their husbands in all things25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and handed himself over for her26so that he might sanctify her, washing her clean by water and the Word of life27so that he might offer her to himself as a glorious Church, not having any spot or wrinkle or any such thing, so that she would be holy and immaculate28So, too, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself29For no man has ever hated his own flesh, but instead he nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ also does to the Church30For we are a part of his body, of his flesh and of his bones31"For this reason, a man shall leave behind his father and mother, and he shall cling to his wife; and the two shall be as one flesh.32This is a great Sacrament. And I am speaking in Christ and in the Church33Yet truly, each and every one of you should love his wife as himself. And a wife should fear her husband
Luke
18And so he said: "To what is the kingdom of God similar, and to what figure shall I compare it19It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and cast into his garden. And it grew, and it became a great tree, and the birds of the air rested in its branches.20And again, he said: "To what figure shall I compare the kingdom of God21It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of fine wheat flour, until it was entirely leavened.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we hear two powerful reflections on growth, transformation, and the nature of God’s kingdom. The first reading from Ephesians emphasizes the sacred relationship between husbands and wives, calling them to live in mutual submission and love, mirroring the relationship between Christ and the Church. The passage reminds us that marriage is not just a human institution but a sacrament that reflects the love and sacrifice of Christ for his bride, the Church. Husbands are called to love their wives selflessly, just as Christ loves the Church, while wives are invited to embrace their role with reverence and respect. This passage challenges us to see marriage as a vocation, a way of living out the Gospel in our daily lives.
The Gospel from Luke offers two parables about the kingdom of God: the mustard seed and the leaven. These images remind us that God’s kingdom often begins small and unnoticed but grows into something extraordinary. The mustard seed, though tiny, becomes a great tree that shelters all who come to it. Similarly, the leaven, though hidden in dough, transforms the entire batch. These parables teach us about the quiet, transformative power of God’s work in the world. Just as the mustard seed and leaven bring life and nourishment, our faith, though it may seem small or insignificant, has the power to transform our lives and the lives of others.
Both readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our faith in our relationships and in the world. The Ephesians passage calls us to live with humility, love, and mutual respect, recognizing that our relationships are a reflection of God’s love. The parables in Luke remind us to trust in God’s power to grow and transform, even when we feel small or inadequate. Let us ask ourselves: Are we allowing God’s love to transform our relationships? Are we trusting in the quiet, hidden ways God is working in our lives and in the world? May we embrace the humility and trust that allows God’s kingdom to flourish in us and through us.