Daily Readings - Tue Sep 03 2024
1 Corinthians
10But God has revealed these things to us through his Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God11And who can know the things that are of a man, except the spirit which is within that man? So also, no one knows the things which are of God, except the Spirit of God12But we have not received the spirit of this world, but the Spirit who is of God, so that we may understand the things that have been given to us by God13And we are also speaking of these things, not in the learned words of human wisdom, but in the doctrine of the Spirit, bringing spiritual things together with spiritual things14But the animal nature of man does not perceive these things that are of the Spirit of God. For it is foolishness to him, and he is not able to understand it, because it must be examined spiritually15But the spiritual nature of man judges all things, and he himself may be judged by no man16For who has known the mind of the Lord, so that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ
Luke
31And he descended to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And there he taught them on the Sabbaths32And they were astonished at his doctrine, for his word was spoken with authority33And in the synagogue, there was a man who had an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice34saying: "Let us alone. What are we to you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know you who you are: the Holy One of God.35And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent and depart from him." And when the demon had thrown him into their midst, he departed from him, and he no longer harmed him36And fear fell over them all. And they discussed this among themselves, saying: "What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they depart.37And his fame spread to every place in the region
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound truths about the nature of God's wisdom and the authority of Jesus Christ. The First Reading from 1 Corinthians reminds us that spiritual truths are not discerned through human wisdom but through the Holy Spirit. Paul emphasizes that the Spirit of God reveals the depths of divine wisdom, which the "natural man" cannot comprehend. This passage invites us to humbly acknowledge our limitations and to rely on the Spirit for understanding the things of God.
The Gospel from Luke illustrates this spiritual truth in action. Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, teaches with authority and casts out an unclean demon. The people are astonished not only by His teaching but by the power with which He commands the evil spirit to depart. This scene reveals the connection between spiritual authority and the work of the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus relied on the Spirit to fulfill His mission, we too are called to live in the power of the Spirit, trusting in God's wisdom and authority to guide us in our own struggles and challenges.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Do we seek to understand God's will through the lens of the Holy Spirit, or do we rely solely on our own reasoning? In a world filled with confusion and darkness, we are reminded that true wisdom and authority come from God. May we, like Jesus, live in the power of the Spirit, trusting in His guidance and allowing Him to transform our lives and our world. Let us pray for the grace to discern God's will and to live as spiritual beings, not merely as "natural men," so that we may bear witness to the wisdom and authority of Christ in all we do.