Daily Readings - Wed Oct 31 2018
Ephesians
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.2"Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise),3"that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land."4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,6not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,7rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,8knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.9Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
Luke
22He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.23And someone said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them,24"Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.25When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us,' then he will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.'26Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.'27But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!'28In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.29And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.30And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore two interconnected themes that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from Ephesians emphasizes the importance of living virtuously within our relationships. It calls for children to obey their parents, fathers to nurture their children with kindness, servants to serve with sincerity, and masters to treat their servants with fairness. This passage underscores the value of mutual respect and trust in God's plan, where our actions are seen as service to Christ, promising that our good deeds will be rewarded.
The Gospel from Luke shifts our focus to the ultimate judgment, where Jesus speaks about the narrow gate. He warns that merely knowing Him or being part of a community isn't sufficient for salvation. Jesus emphasizes that many will seek entry but will be turned away, highlighting that true faith requires more than superficial association. He illustrates that people from all walks of life will join the kingdom, and the last will be first, challenging our assumptions about who is worthy.
Together, these readings remind us that our daily lives must reflect the teachings of Christ. The virtues outlined in Ephesians—obedience, kindness, and fairness—are not just social norms but essential for our spiritual journey. Jesus' narrow gate is not just a metaphor but a call to action, urging us to live a life that truly embodies His message. The moral lesson here is clear: salvation is not guaranteed by association but by living a life that mirrors Christ's teachings. Let us strive to live virtuously, trusting in God's grace, and not take our place in the kingdom for granted.