Daily Readings - Sat Oct 26 2019

Romans

1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.2For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.6To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.7For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.8Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.9You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.10But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.11If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Luke

1There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.2And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?3No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.4Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?5No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."6And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.7And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?'8And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure.9Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the transformative power of God’s grace and the call to repentance. The first reading from Romans reminds us that through Christ, we are freed from the law of sin and death, and we are called to live according to the Spirit. This passage emphasizes that our new life in Christ is not about condemnation but about the liberation and peace that come from living in harmony with God’s will. The context of this passage is St. Paul’s larger discussion about the relationship between the law and the Spirit, reassuring believers that their life in Christ is one of freedom and hope. The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus teaching about repentance and God’s patience. In response to tragic events, Jesus warns against assuming that suffering is a direct result of sin. Instead, He uses these moments to call all people to repentance, emphasizing that none of us are immune to the need for conversion. The parable of the fig tree reinforces this message, showing that God gives us time and grace to bear fruit, but we must respond with effort and faith. This parable is a powerful reminder that our lives are not static; we are always given the opportunity to grow and change with God’s help. These readings are deeply connected, as both emphasize the opportunity for transformation and the responsibility that comes with it. In Romans, we see the inner transformation wrought by the Spirit, while in Luke, we are called to outward signs of repentance and fruitful living. Together, they remind us that our relationship with God is one of ongoing conversion and growth. In our daily lives, this means examining our hearts and actions, seeking to live more deeply in the Spirit, and being open to the grace that allows us to bear fruit. The moral lesson here is one of hope and responsibility: God’s grace is abundant, but we must cooperate with it, trusting in His patience while striving to live as fruitful disciples. Let us embrace this call to conversion and growth, knowing that the Spirit of God is always at work within us, leading us to eternal life.