Daily Readings - Mon Sep 09 2019
Colossians
24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,25of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,26the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.27To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.28Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.29For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
1For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face,2that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ,3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Luke
6On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered.7And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him.8But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come and stand here." And he rose and stood there.9And Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?"10And after looking around at them all he said to him, "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored.11But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on the mission of spreading God's word and the transformative power of love. The first reading from Colossians reveals St. Paul's deep commitment to his ministry, despite his sufferings. He sees his trials as a way to "complete what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ," not because Christ's sacrifice was insufficient, but because Paul's own life becomes an offering for the Church. He emphasizes that the mystery of God, once hidden, is now revealed through Christ, and he is called to announce this truth to all people, teaching and correcting them in wisdom so that they may be "perfect in Christ." Paul's passion for the Gospel shines through, even as he acknowledges the challenges of his mission.
The Gospel from Luke presents a vivid contrast between Jesus' compassion and the Pharisees' rigid adherence to the law. On the Sabbath, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand, despite knowing that the Pharisees are watching for any excuse to accuse him. His question to them—"Is it lawful to do good or evil on the Sabbath? To save a life or to destroy it?"—exposes the hypocrisy of their legalism. By healing the man, Jesus demonstrates that love and mercy must always take precedence over human rules. The Pharisees' anger reveals the hardness of their hearts, but Jesus' actions reveal the heart of God.
These readings remind us that our faith is not about following rules for their own sake but about living in love and service to others. Like Paul, we are called to embrace our own challenges as opportunities to grow in holiness and to share the Gospel with others. Like Jesus, we are called to act with compassion, even when it means going against the expectations of others. Let us reflect on how we can live more fully in this spirit of love and mission, allowing Christ to transform our hearts and our actions.