Daily Readings - Mon Oct 21 2024
Ephesians
1And you were once dead in your sins and offenses2in which you walked in times past, according to the age of this world, according to the prince of the power of this sky, the spirit who now works in the sons of distrust3And we too were all conversant in these things, in times past, by the desires of our flesh, acting according to the will of the flesh and according to our own thoughts. And so we were, by nature, sons of wrath, even like the others4Yet still, God, who is rich in mercy, for the sake of his exceedingly great charity with which he loved us5even when we were dead in our sins, has enlivened us together in Christ, by whose grace you have been saved6And he has raised us up together, and he has caused us to sit down together in the heavens, in Christ Jesus7so that he may display, in the ages soon to arrive, the abundant wealth of his grace, by his goodness toward us in Christ Jesus8For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not of yourselves, for it is a gift of God9And this is not of works, so that no one may glory10For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works which God has prepared and in which we should walk
Luke
13And someone from the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.14But he said to him, "Man, who has appointed me as judge or arbitrator over you?15So he said to them: "Be cautious and wary of all avarice. For a person’s life is not found in the abundance of the things that he possesses.16Then he spoke to them using a comparison, saying: "The fertile land of a certain wealthy man produced crops17And he thought within himself, saying: ‘What should I do? For I have nowhere to gather together my crops.18And he said: ‘This is what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build larger ones. And into these, I will gather all the things that have been grown for me, as well as my goods19And I will say to my soul: Soul, you have many goods, stored up for many years. Relax, eat, drink, and be cheerful.20But God said to him: ‘Foolish one, this very night they require your soul of you. To whom, then, will those things belong, which you have prepared?21So it is with him who stores up for himself, and is not wealthy with God.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound truths about grace, wealth, and our relationship with God. The first reading from Ephesians reminds us that we are saved by grace through faith, not by our own works. It emphasizes that our salvation is a gift from God, who has created us for good works. This passage highlights the unity and purpose we find in Christ, being His handiwork, and the abundance of His grace.
The Gospel from Luke presents the parable of the rich fool, who, in his pursuit of wealth, forgets the true richness that comes from God. Jesus warns against greed and the illusion of security through material possessions. This parable teaches us to focus on spiritual wealth, recognizing that our lives are not measured by what we own but by our relationship with God.
Both readings call us to reflect on our priorities. Ephesians encourages us to trust in God's grace and live out our faith through good works, while Luke's parable warns against the dangers of materialism. Together, they remind us to seek spiritual growth and generosity, avoiding the trap of worldly wealth. The moral lesson is clear: true wealth lies in our connection with God, and we should strive to be rich in His eyes, living with gratitude and humility.