Daily Readings - Wed Oct 23 2019
Romans
12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions.13Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.14For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.15What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!16Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?17But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,18and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
Luke
39But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.40You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."41Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?"42And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?43Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.44Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.45But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,46the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.47And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.48But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the call to live as faithful stewards of God’s grace and to remain vigilant in our spiritual lives. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul urges us to resist the reign of sin in our lives and instead offer ourselves to God as instruments of justice. He reminds us that we are not under the law but under grace, and this grace calls us to live in obedience to God’s will. The Gospel from Luke reinforces this message through the parable of the faithful steward. Jesus teaches that we must be prepared for the Lord’s return, living with integrity and fidelity in our responsibilities. The parable warns against complacency and the misuse of the gifts and talents entrusted to us, emphasizing that much will be required from those to whom much has been given.
Both readings are connected by the theme of accountability and stewardship. In Romans, Paul focuses on the personal dimension of living a life transformed by grace, while Luke’s parable broadens this to include our responsibilities toward others and the gifts we have received. Together, they remind us that our faith is not merely a private matter but a call to live in a way that reflects our commitment to God and to the well-being of those around us. The readings also highlight the importance of vigilance and preparedness, urging us to live each day with the awareness that we are called to give an account of our lives.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: How am I using the gifts and talents God has given me? Am I living in a way that reflects my obedience to God’s will, or am I allowing sin to take root in my life? The moral lesson here is clear: our lives are not our own, and we are called to be faithful stewards of all that God has entrusted to us. Let us strive to live with integrity, generosity, and a deep awareness of God’s presence in our lives. By doing so, we will not only fulfill our responsibilities but also grow in holiness and prepare ourselves for the day when we will stand before the Lord.