Daily Readings - Mon Oct 22 2018
Ephesians
1And you were dead in the trespasses and sins2in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--3among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.4But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,5even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--6and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,7so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,9not a result of works, so that no one may boast.10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Luke
13Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."14But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?"15And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."16And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully,17and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?'18And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.19And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.'20But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'21So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of the transformative power of grace and the dangers of materialism. The Epistle from Ephesians highlights our salvation through grace by faith, not by works, and how we are called to live out this grace in good works. The Gospel from Luke, through the parable of the rich fool, warns against the pitfalls of covetousness and the fleeting nature of material wealth.
Both readings, though distinct, complement each other by emphasizing the importance of spiritual wealth over earthly possessions. Ephesians encourages us to recognize the gift of salvation and to express this through acts of love and service. Luke's parable cautions us against becoming so focused on accumulating wealth that we neglect our relationship with God and others.
In our daily lives, let us embrace the grace we've been given with gratitude and humility. Let us not take credit for the blessings in our lives but instead use them to serve others. May we cultivate a spirit of contentment and generosity, remembering that true wealth lies in our relationship with God and in eternal treasures. As we navigate the world's temptations, may we always seek to be rich in God's eyes.