Daily Readings - Mon Oct 30 2023
Romans
11But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead lives within you, then he who raised up Jesus Christ from the dead shall also enliven your mortal bodies, by means of his Spirit living within you12Therefore, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, so as to live according to the flesh13For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if, by the Spirit, you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live14For all those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God15And you have not received, again, a spirit of servitude in fear, but you have received the Spirit of the adoption of sons, in whom we cry out: "Abba, Father!16For the Spirit himself renders testimony to our spirit that we are the sons of God17But if we are sons, then we are also heirs: certainly heirs of God, but also co-heirs with Christ, yet in such a way that, if we suffer with him, we shall also be glorified with him
Luke
10Now he was teaching in their synagogue on the Sabbaths11And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years. And she was bent over; and she was unable to look upwards at all12And when Jesus saw her, he called her to himself, and he said to her, "Woman, you are released from your infirmity.13And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was straightened, and she glorified God14Then, as a result, the ruler of the synagogue became angry that Jesus had cured on the Sabbath, and he said to the crowd: "There are six days on which you ought to work. Therefore, come and be cured on those, and not on the day of the Sabbath.15Then the Lord said to him in response: "You hypocrites! Does not each one of you, on the Sabbath, release his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it to water16So then, should not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for lo these eighteen years, be released from this restraint on the day of the Sabbath?17And as he was saying these things, all his adversaries were ashamed. And all the people rejoiced in everything that was being done gloriously by him
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about freedom and compassion. The first reading from Romans reminds us that through the Holy Spirit, we are freed from the bondage of sin and death, becoming children of God. This Spirit not only gives us life but also calls us to live in a way that reflects our divine adoption, sharing in Christ's sufferings and glory. The Gospel from Luke illustrates this freedom through Jesus' healing of a woman on the Sabbath, challenging the legalistic views of the synagogue ruler. Jesus emphasizes that compassion should not be confined by rules, highlighting the importance of mercy over rigid adherence to law.
Both readings emphasize living in the Spirit and expressing compassion. In Romans, Paul contrasts flesh and Spirit, urging believers to choose a Spirit-led life. Similarly, Luke's Gospel shows Jesus freeing someone from physical and spiritual bondage, demonstrating that true freedom involves compassion. This connection invites us to reflect on how we live out our faith—whether we prioritize love and mercy or get entangled in legalism.
In our daily lives, let us embrace the freedom offered by the Holy Spirit, choosing to live compassionately. Just as Jesus healed on the Sabbath, we should not let rules hinder our ability to show love. Let us remember that true freedom in Christ means serving others with mercy and kindness, reflecting the transformative power of the Spirit. May we, as children of God, live with hearts open to His will, prioritizing love and compassion in all we do.