Daily Readings - Wed Sep 05 2018
1 Corinthians
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.
Luke
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.