Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 12, 2020
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 10.14-22a
14Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.15I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.16The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?17Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.18Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?19What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?20No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.22Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
Psalm 116
1I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.2Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.3The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.4Then I called on the name of the LORD: "O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!"5Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful.6The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.7Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.8For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling;9I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.10I believed, even when I spoke, "I am greatly afflicted";11I said in my alarm, "All mankind are liars."12What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me?13I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,14I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.15Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.16O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds.17I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.18I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,19in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!
Gospel: Luke 6.43-49
43"For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit,44for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.45The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.46"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?47Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like:48he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.49But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great."
Sermon
In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the authenticity of our faith and the integrity of our actions. The first reading from 1 Corinthians reminds us of the sacred nature of the Eucharist, urging us to avoid idolatry and instead commune deeply with Christ. The Gospel from Luke uses the metaphor of trees and their fruit to illustrate that our actions reveal the true state of our hearts, emphasizing the importance of living according to Jesus' teachings.
The context of these readings is rooted in early Christian communities grappling with issues of faith and practice. In Corinth, Paul addresses a community dealing with idolatry and the meaning of the Eucharist, calling for a deeper understanding of communion with Christ. Luke's Gospel presents Jesus teaching on the necessity of integrity, where true faith is demonstrated through actions, not just words, using the parable of the builder to stress the importance of a strong spiritual foundation.
Together, these readings call us to examine our commitments and ensure our actions reflect our faith. They remind us that superficial participation in worship or daily life can lead to hypocrisy and weakness. Instead, we are urged to build our lives on the rock of Jesus' teachings, ensuring that our words and deeds align, leading to a life of integrity and spiritual strength. This is the essence of an authentic Christian life—one that transforms and sustains us through life's challenges.