Daily Readings - Wed Sep 02 2020
1 Corinthians
1But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.2I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,3for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?4For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human?5What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.6I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.8He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.9For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.
Luke
38And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf.39And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.40Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.41And demons also came out of many, crying, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.42And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them,43but he said to them, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose."44And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from 1 Corinthians reminds us that while we may plant and water the seeds of faith, it is God who brings forth the growth. Paul addresses the Corinthians, who were divided by factions, urging them to move beyond their carnal divisions and focus on their spiritual growth. He emphasizes that ministers are merely God's instruments, and true growth comes from Him.
In the Gospel, Luke shares the story of Jesus healing Simon's mother-in-law and many others, demonstrating His divine authority. Despite the crowds' desire to keep Him in one place, Jesus insists on spreading the kingdom's message, showing that His mission is not limited to physical healing but extends to spiritual salvation. This highlights Jesus' role as the Messiah, focused on fulfilling His divine purpose.
These readings teach us to trust in God's providence and recognize our role as His instruments. We are called to humility, unity, and a focus on spiritual growth. Let us embrace our role in God's plan, trusting that He will bring forth the fruit of our efforts. In our daily lives, may we seek to serve and spread God's message, remembering that true power and growth come from Him alone.