Daily Readings - Sat Oct 28 2017
Ephesians
19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,21in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.22In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Luke
12In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.13And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:14Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew,15and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,16and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.17And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon,18who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured.19And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of the profound truths about our identity and purpose as followers of Christ. The first reading from Ephesians 2:19-22 highlights our status as citizens in God's household, built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone. This passage emphasizes our unity and belonging within the body of Christ, where each member contributes to the construction of a holy temple in the Lord. The second reading from Luke 6:12-19 illustrates Jesus' prayerful selection of the twelve Apostles, followed by His ministry of healing and teaching to a multitude. This passage underscores Jesus' divine wisdom in choosing His disciples and His compassion in healing both physical and spiritual ailments.
The context of Ephesians is a letter to the early Christian community, stressing the unity and solidarity of believers in Christ. It reminds us that we are not strangers but part of a larger family, with Christ as our foundation. In Luke, the context is Jesus' public ministry, where He prayerfully selects His disciples and begins His mission of preaching and healing. These readings relate to each other by emphasizing the importance of community and the role of Christ as the foundation and healer of that community.
Applying this to our daily lives, we are called to recognize our role within the body of Christ and to support one another in building up the community. Just as the early church was built on a strong foundation, our lives should be grounded in faith, hope, and love. We are each called to be part of God's plan, using our unique gifts to contribute to the greater good. The moral lesson here is one of unity and purpose. We are all part of God's household, and our actions should reflect our commitment to building up the community and spreading the message of Christ. Let us strive to live as citizens of God's kingdom, united in our faith and purpose.