Daily Readings - Sat Sep 12 2020
1 Corinthians
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?
Luke
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.