Daily Readings - Mon Oct 21 2019
Romans
20No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,21fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.22That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness."23But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone,24but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,25who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and the true source of security in our lives. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul highlights Abraham’s unwavering faith in God’s promise. Despite the challenges and uncertainties, Abraham trusted in God’s power and fidelity, and this faith was reckoned to him as righteousness. Paul emphasizes that this righteousness is not just for Abraham but also for us, if we believe in the God who raised Jesus from the dead. This passage reminds us that our faith is not about our own efforts but about trusting in God’s promises and His ability to fulfill them.
In the Gospel, Jesus warns us against the dangers of greed and materialism through the parable of the rich fool. The wealthy man in the story is so focused on accumulating possessions that he fails to recognize the true purpose of his life. Jesus calls him a fool because he trusts in his wealth rather than in God. The man’s tragic end serves as a cautionary tale: our lives are not measured by what we possess but by our relationship with God. This parable challenges us to examine our priorities and to recognize that true wealth lies in our spiritual lives, not in material abundance.
Both readings call us to trust in God’s providence and to live with a sense of detachment from worldly possessions. Abraham’s faith teaches us to rely on God’s promises even when the future seems uncertain. The parable of the rich fool reminds us that our ultimate security comes not from what we accumulate but from our relationship with God. Let us ask ourselves: Do we trust in God’s plan for our lives, or do we place our trust in the things of this world? May we strive to live with faith, generosity, and a heart open to God’s will, knowing that true wealth is found in Him alone.