Daily Readings - Sat Sep 07 2019
Colossians
21And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,22he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,23if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Luke
1On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands.2But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?"3And Jesus answered them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him:4how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?"5And he said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of reconciliation, freedom, and the true spirit of God's law. In the first reading from Colossians, St. Paul reminds us that through Christ's death, we have been reconciled to God, once enemies because of sin, but now made holy and blameless in His sight. This reconciliation calls us to remain steadfast in our faith, grounded in the hope of the Gospel. The second reading from Luke presents a scene where Jesus and His disciples are criticized by the Pharisees for picking grain on the Sabbath. Jesus defends their actions by recalling how David, in his hunger, ate the bread of the Presence, which was reserved for priests. Jesus then declares that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath, emphasizing that human needs and compassion should take precedence over rigid legalism.
These readings are connected by the theme of freedom in Christ. In Colossians, we are freed from sin and alienation through Christ's reconciling death. In Luke, Jesus frees us from a narrow understanding of the law, showing that God's commandments are meant to serve humanity, not the other way around. The Pharisees focused on the letter of the law, while Jesus highlighted its spirit, which is love and service to others. This tension reminds us that our faith must always be rooted in love and compassion, rather than empty observance.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine how we live out our faith. Are we like the Pharisees, focusing on rules and appearances, or do we allow the spirit of the law to guide us? Do we recognize the freedom and reconciliation we have in Christ, and do we live in a way that reflects this? Let us strive to be people of compassion and love, always seeking to serve others and honor God in the way we live. As Jesus teaches, the Sabbath—and indeed all of life—was made for humanity, not humanity for the Sabbath. May we live in the freedom and grace of God's love.