Daily Readings - Sat Sep 23 2017
1 Timothy
13I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession,14to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,15which he will display at the proper time--he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,16who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
Luke
4And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable:5"A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it.6And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it.8And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold." As he said these things, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."9And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant,10he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'11Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.12The ones along the path are those who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.13And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.14And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.15As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the enduring power of God’s word and the call to fidelity. The first reading from 1 Timothy encourages Timothy to remain faithful, observing the commandment until Christ’s return. This passage underscores the importance of perseverance and trust in God’s plan. The Gospel from Luke presents the parable of the sower, where Jesus teaches about the different ways people receive God’s word. This parable invites us to reflect on how we ourselves receive and nurture God’s message in our lives.
Both readings, though distinct, share a common theme of receptivity and endurance. In 1 Timothy, the focus is on steadfastness in faith, while Luke’s parable highlights the varying responses to God’s word. The parable serves as a mirror, prompting us to examine our own hearts and how we allow God’s word to take root. The challenge is to be like the good soil—open, receptive, and nurturing—so that God’s word can bear fruit in our lives.
In our daily lives, this means cultivating patience and faithfulness. Just as the seed needs time and care to grow, our spiritual lives require consistent effort and openness to God’s grace. The moral lesson here is clear: perseverance and receptivity are essential for spiritual growth. May we strive to be the good soil, allowing God’s word to transform us, even amidst life’s challenges, and may we bear fruit in patience and love.