Daily Readings - Thu Oct 23 2025
Romans
19I am speaking in human terms because of the infirmity of your flesh. For just as you offered the parts of your body to serve impurity and iniquity, for the sake of iniquity, so also have you now yielded the parts of your body to serve justice, for the sake of sanctification20For though you were once the servants of sin, you have become the children of justice21But what fruit did you hold at that time, in those things about which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death22Yet truly, having been freed now from sin, and having been made servants of God, you hold your fruit in sanctification, and truly its end is eternal life23For the wages of sin is death. But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
Luke
49I have come to cast a fire upon the earth. And what should I desire, except that it may be kindled50And I have a baptism, with which I am to be baptized. And how I am constrained, even until it may be accomplished51Do you think that I have come to give peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division52For from this time on, there will be five in one house: divided as three against two, and as two against three53A father will be divided against a son, and a son against his father; a mother against a daughter and a daughter against a mother; a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the profound transformation that comes with following Christ and the challenges that accompany it. The first reading from Romans speaks of the shift from a life of sin to one of justice and sanctification. Paul emphasizes that just as we once surrendered our bodies to serve impurity, we are now called to yield ourselves to God’s justice. This transformation is not merely about behavior but about a radical change in our very being, leading to eternal life. The second reading from Luke presents a more intense and provocative message. Jesus speaks of casting fire upon the earth, a fire that will bring division even among family members. He makes it clear that His mission is not to bring peace but to disrupt the status quo, calling us to stand firm in our commitment to Him, even when it leads to conflict.
These readings, though seemingly contrasting, are deeply connected. Both invite us to reflect on the nature of our relationship with God and the world. Paul’s letter highlights the internal transformation required to live as children of God, while Luke’s Gospel underscores the external consequences of that transformation. Jesus’ words about division remind us that living a life of justice and sanctification will not always be easy or popular. It may require us to stand apart from those around us, even those closest to us, as we align ourselves with God’s will.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are called to examine our own commitment to living as servants of God. Are we willing to embrace the challenges that come with following Christ? Are we prepared to stand firm in our faith, even when it leads to division or discomfort? The moral lesson here is clear: our ultimate goal is eternal life, and this requires us to surrender ourselves fully to God’s justice and sanctification. Let us pray for the strength to embrace this transformative journey, trusting that the fire of God’s love will purify and guide us, even in the face of adversity.