Daily Readings - Sat Sep 07 2024
1 Corinthians
6And so, brothers, I have presented these things in myself and in Apollo, for your sakes, so that you may learn, through us, that no one should be inflated against one person and for another, not beyond what has been written7For what distinguishes you from another? And what do you have that you have not received? But if you have received it, why do you glory, as if you had not received it8So, now you have been filled, and now you have been made wealthy, as if to reign without us? But I wish that you would reign, so that we, too, might reign with you9For I think that God has presented us as the last Apostles, as those destined for death. For we have been made into a spectacle for the world, and for Angels, and for men10So we are fools because of Christ, but you are discerning in Christ? We are weak, but you are strong? You are noble, but we are ignoble11Even to this very hour, we hunger and thirst, and we are naked and repeatedly beaten, and we are unsteady12And we labor, working with our own hands. We are slandered, and so we bless. We suffer and endure persecution13We are cursed, and so we pray. We have become like the refuse of this world, like the reside of everything, even until now14I am not writing these things in order to confound you, but in order to admonish you, as my dearest sons15For you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, but not so many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, through the Gospel, I have begotten you
Luke
1Now it happened that, on the second first Sabbath, as he passed through the grain field, his disciples were separating the ears of grain and eating them, by rubbing them in their hands2Then certain Pharisees said to them, "Why are you doing what is not lawful on the Sabbaths?3And responding to them, Jesus said: "Have you not read this, what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him4How he entered into the house of God, and took the bread of the Presence, and ate it, and gave it to those who were with him, though it is not lawful for anyone to eat it, except the priests alone?5And he said to them, "For the Son of man is Lord, even of the Sabbath.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on humility, service, and the true meaning of authority. In the first reading from 1 Corinthians, St. Paul humbly reminds the Corinthians that everything they have is a gift from God, and they should not boast as if their accomplishments or possessions were entirely their own. He contrasts the Corinthians’ pride with the apostles’ suffering and self-emptying, emphasizing that true greatness lies in serving others, not in seeking power or recognition. In the Gospel, Jesus challenges the Pharisees’ rigid understanding of the Sabbath by reminding them that the Sabbath was made for humanity, not the other way around. He asserts His authority as the Lord of the Sabbath, teaching that compassion and human needs should take precedence over strict legalism.
Both readings call us to re-examine our priorities and our understanding of what it means to live as followers of Christ. Paul’s words remind us that our talents, resources, and even our faith are gifts from God, and we should use them to serve others, not to elevate ourselves. Jesus’ encounter with the Pharisees challenges us to approach rules and traditions with a heart of love and mercy, rather than legalistic rigidity. Together, these readings encourage us to embrace humility, recognize our dependence on God, and live in a way that reflects the values of the Kingdom of God.
In our daily lives, this means letting go of pride and competition, and instead seeking to serve others with gratitude and generosity. It means being open to God’s surprises and not being bound by our own limited perspectives. As we strive to live out these teachings, may we learn to see ourselves and our gifts as part of God’s larger plan, and may we approach every situation with the humility and compassion that Jesus modeled for us.