Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 5, 2020
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 4.6-15
6I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.7For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?8Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you!9For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.10We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.11To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless,12and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;13when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.14I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.15For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Psalm 145
1I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.2Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.3Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.4One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.5On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.6They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness.7They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.8The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.9The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.10All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you!11They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power,12to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.[The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]14The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.15The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.16You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.17The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.18The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.19He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.20The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.21My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Gospel: Luke 6.1-5
1On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands.2But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?"3And Jesus answered them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him:4how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?"5And he said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."
Sermon
In today's readings, we hear St. Paul and Jesus offering profound insights into humility and service. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, reminds us that all we have is a gift from God, urging us to avoid pride and instead embrace humility. He shares his own experiences of hardship and persecution to illustrate that true strength lies in serving others, not in earthly comforts. This message is echoed in the Gospel where Jesus defends His disciples for picking grain on the Sabbath, using the example of David to highlight that human needs and compassion should sometimes take precedence over strict rules.
The context of these readings reveals the challenges faced by the early Christian communities. The Corinthian church was divided by pride and rivalry, prompting Paul to call for unity and humility. Similarly, Jesus faced criticism from the Pharisees who prioritized legalistic observance over people's needs. Both readings emphasize the importance of balancing rules with love and service, reminding us that our faith should be lived out in compassionate action.
Applying these teachings to our daily lives, we are called to remain humble, acknowledging God as the source of all blessings. We should approach each day with a heart of service, prioritizing the well-being of others and being compassionate. Just as Jesus showed that the Sabbath was made for humanity, not the other way around, we too should use our freedoms to uplift and care for one another. Let us reflect on how we can embody humility and compassion, allowing our faith to be a source of love and service in the world.