Daily Readings - Mon Sep 09 2024
1 Corinthians
1Above all else, it is being said that there is fornication among you, even fornication of a such kind that is not among the Gentiles, so that someone would have the wife of his father2And yet you are inflated, and you have not instead been grieved, so that he who has done this thing would be taken away from your midst3Certainly, though absent in body, I am present in spirit. Thus, I have already judged, as if I were present, him who has done this4In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you have been gathered together with my spirit, in the power of our Lord Jesus5to hand over such a one as this to Satan, for the destruction of the flesh, so that the spirit may be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ6It is not good for you to glory. Do you not know that a little leaven corrupts the entire mass7Purge the old leaven, so that you may become the new bread, for you are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover, has now been immolated8And so, let us feast, not with the old leaven, not with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth
Luke
6And it happened that, on another Sabbath, he entered into the synagogue, and he taught. And there was a man there, and his right hand was withered7And the scribes and Pharisees observed whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might thereby find an accusation against him8Yet truly, he knew their thoughts, and so he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Rise up and stand in the middle." And rising up, he stood still9Then Jesus said to them: "I ask you if it is lawful on the Sabbaths to do good, or to do evil? To give health to a life, or to destroy it?10And looking around at everyone, he said to the man, "Extend your hand." And he extended it. And his hand was restored11Then they were filled with madness, and they discussed with one another, what, in particular, they might do about Jesus
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful lessons about living as followers of Christ. The first reading from 1 Corinthians addresses a moral issue within the church, where a man is living with his father's wife. Paul expresses concern that the community has not taken action, emphasizing the need to expel the man to protect the spiritual well-being of the community. He uses the metaphor of leaven to illustrate how sin can spread, urging the Corinthians to purge sin and live with sincerity, just as Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed.
The Gospel from Luke presents a different yet related scenario. Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, challenging the Pharisees' strict legalism. While they focus on the law, Jesus prioritizes compassion, asking if it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. This healing angers the Pharisees, highlighting the tension between legalistic observance and merciful action.
These readings remind us of the balance we must strike in our lives. We are called to maintain moral integrity and accountability within our communities, recognizing that sin can have far-reaching effects. Simultaneously, we must embody compassion and mercy, reflecting Jesus' example of prioritizing human well-being over rigid rules. In our daily lives, this means fostering communities that uphold standards of holiness while also being places of healing and love.
As we reflect on these teachings, let us consider how we can apply them in our own lives. May we strive to be communities that support each other in living virtuously, while also reaching out with compassion to those in need. True holiness is not just about discipline but also about living with integrity and kindness, inspired by Christ's example. Let us pray for the grace to balance discipline with mercy, that we may truly reflect God's love in all we do.