Daily Readings - Sat Oct 14 2023
Joel
12Let them arise and ascend to the valley of Jehoshaphat. For there I will sit, so as to judge all the nations of the world13Send forth the sickles, because the harvest has matured. Advance and descend, for the press is full, the pressing room is overflowing. For their malice has been increasing14Nations, nations in the valley of being cut to pieces: for the day of the Lord fittingly takes place in the valley of being cut to pieces15The sun and the moon have been darkened, and the stars have withdrawn their splendor16And the Lord will roar from Zion and utter his voice from Jerusalem. And the heavens and the earth will be moved. And the Lord will be the hope of his people and the strength of the sons of Israel17And you will know that I am the Lord your God, dwelling on Zion, my holy mountain. And Jerusalem will be holy, and strangers will not cross through it anymore18And it will happen, in that day, that the mountains will drip sweetness, and the hills will flow with milk. And the waters will pass through all the rivers of Judah. And a fountain will go forth from the house of the Lord, and it will irrigate the desert of thorns19Egypt will be in desolation, and Edom will be a wilderness destroyed, because of what they have unfairly done to the sons of Judah, and because they have shed innocent blood in their land20And Judea will be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem for generation upon generation21And I will cleanse their blood, which I had not cleansed. And the Lord will remain in Zion
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about God's judgment, restoration, and the path to true blessedness. The First Reading from Joel paints a vivid picture of the Day of the Lord, a time of reckoning where nations are judged in the valley of Jehoshaphat. Joel's prophecy is both a warning and a promise—while there is desolation for the unrepentant, there is also restoration for Judah, with imagery of abundance and a fountain from the Lord's house bringing life to the desert. This passage reminds us that God's justice is not just punitive but also restorative, offering hope to those who remain faithful.
The Gospel from Luke shifts our focus to the living out of God's word. When a woman praises Jesus' mother, He responds by emphasizing that true blessedness comes not from physical connection but from hearing and keeping God's word. This teaching underscores the importance of obedience and faithfulness in our daily lives. Jesus is not diminishing the value of Mary's role but highlighting that spiritual blessedness surpasses physical ties. This message aligns with Joel's themes of judgment and restoration, as both readings call us to align our lives with God's will.
As we reflect on these readings, we are invited to examine our own lives. Are we living according to God's word, preparing for His judgment, and trusting in His plan? The moral lesson here is clear: true blessedness is found in a life of faith and obedience. Let us strive to keep God's word close to our hearts, knowing that this path leads to restoration and eternal life. In doing so, we embody the hope and justice that Joel prophesied and the spiritual blessedness that Jesus taught.