Daily Readings - Wed Sep 20 2017
1 Timothy
14I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that,15if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of truth.16Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
Luke
31"To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like?32They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, "'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.'33For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.'34The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'35Yet wisdom is justified by all her children."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of God’s truth and how it is received in the world. In the first reading from 1 Timothy, St. Paul emphasizes the Church as the “pillar and foundation of truth,” a community called to uphold and live out the mystery of God’s plan of salvation. This mystery, revealed in the flesh and glorified in Christ, transcends human understanding and yet is accessible to all through faith. The Church, as the living body of Christ, is entrusted with preserving and proclaiming this truth in a world often hostile or indifferent to it.
In the Gospel, Jesus laments the inconsistency of those who reject both the austere witness of John the Baptist and the joyful, inclusive ministry of Himself. John, who fasted and lived an ascetic life, was dismissed as having a demon, while Jesus, who ate and drank with sinners, was labeled a glutton and a drunkard. This criticism reveals the hardness of heart that resists the truth, no matter how it is presented. Jesus’ words remind us that wisdom is vindicated by her children—those who embrace God’s truth with open hearts and lives.
These readings challenge us to examine how we receive God’s truth in our own lives. Are we open to His Word, no matter how it comes to us? Do we allow ourselves to be shaped by the Church’s teaching, even when it challenges our assumptions? Let us ask for the grace to embrace the mystery of God’s love with humility and joy, trusting that His truth will set us free. In a world that often resists the Gospel, may we be faithful witnesses, living out the mystery of Christ in our daily lives.