Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 5, 2018
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 3.1-9
1But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.2I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,3for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?4For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human?5What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.6I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.8He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.9For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.
Psalm 33
1Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.2Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!3Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.4For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.5He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.6By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.7He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses.8Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!9For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.10The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.11The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.12Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!13The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man;14from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth,15he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.16The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.17The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.18Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,19that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.20Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.21For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.22Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
Gospel: Luke 4.38-44
38And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf.39And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.40Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.41And demons also came out of many, crying, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.42And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them,43but he said to them, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose."44And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from 1 Corinthians reminds us of our spiritual immaturity and the tendency to divide ourselves by earthly leaders. Paul urges us to look beyond human efforts and recognize that true growth comes from God. He emphasizes unity and collaboration, noting that while we may plant or water, it is God who nurtures the growth.
The Gospel from Luke illustrates Jesus' compassionate ministry, healing the sick and casting out demons. Despite the recognition of His divine authority, Jesus remains focused on His mission to preach the kingdom of God. This teaches us about the importance of staying true to our calling and trusting in God's plan, even when faced with distractions or accolades.
Together, these readings call us to embrace unity and trust in God's work. In our daily lives, this means avoiding divisions, trusting that God is actively at work, and staying committed to our mission. Let us reflect on our own tendencies to divide or seek recognition, and instead, focus on our shared purpose and God's grace. May we, like Jesus, remain steadfast in our calling and trust in the divine growth that only God can provide.