Daily Readings - Mon Sep 07 2020
1 Corinthians
1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife.2And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.3For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing.4When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus,5you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.6Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?7Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.8Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Luke
6On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered.7And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him.8But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come and stand here." And he rose and stood there.9And Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?"10And after looking around at them all he said to him, "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored.11But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct yet interconnected lessons on morality and compassion. The first reading from 1 Corinthians addresses a grave moral issue within the early Christian community. Paul expresses concern over the community's tolerance of incest, urging them to expel the offender to preserve their spiritual integrity. He uses the metaphor of leaven to illustrate how sin can permeate the entire community if not addressed. Paul connects this to the Passover, emphasizing the need for sincerity and truthfulness in their lives.
The Gospel from Luke presents a scenario where Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, challenging the Pharisees' strict observance. Jesus questions their understanding of the Sabbath, asserting that it is lawful to do good and heal. This act of compassion angers the Pharisees, who then plot against him. This narrative highlights Jesus' teaching that compassion should guide our actions, even in the face of rigid rules.
Together, these readings teach us about balancing moral standards with compassion. They remind us to address sin within our communities with integrity, while also being guided by mercy. The moral lesson is that true righteousness involves both upholding moral principles and showing compassion. We should strive to create supportive communities that foster virtuous living through understanding and mercy.