Daily Readings - Tue Oct 15 2019
Romans
16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.21For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.22Claiming to be wise, they became fools,23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.24Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,25because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Luke
37While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table.38The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner.39And the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.40You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also?41But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore themes of faith, hypocrisy, and inner purity. The First Reading from Romans emphasizes the power of the Gospel and the consequences of turning away from God. Paul highlights how humanity, despite knowing God, often rejects Him, leading to spiritual decay and worshiping creation over the Creator. This serves as a reminder of the universal need for salvation through faith.
The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus confronting a Pharisee's concern over outward rituals, such as washing before eating. Jesus points out the hypocrisy of focusing on appearances while neglecting inner righteousness. He teaches that true purity comes from within, suggesting that giving alms can cleanse the heart, emphasizing the importance of sincere actions over mere rituals.
These readings relate by contrasting outward appearances with inner faith. Romans warns against spiritual decay from rejecting God, while Luke's Jesus critiques hypocrisy, urging us to focus on inner purity. In daily life, this means prioritizing integrity and genuine faith over superficial displays. The moral lesson is clear: true faith is about the heart, not rituals. Let us strive to live with sincerity, ensuring our actions reflect our beliefs, and focus on nurturing our inner selves to achieve true purity.