Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 18, 2020
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 15.12-20
12Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.14And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.15We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.16For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.19If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.20But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Psalm 17
1Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!2From your presence let my vindication come! Let your eyes behold the right!3You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.4With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.5My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.6I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words.7Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.8Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings,9from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me.10They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly.11They have now surrounded our steps; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground.12He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush.13Arise, O LORD! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,14from men by your hand, O LORD, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants.15As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.
Gospel: Luke 8.1-3
1Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him,2and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,3and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound reflections on faith and community. The first reading from 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 emphasizes the centrality of the resurrection of Christ. Paul argues that if Christ has not risen, then our faith is in vain, and our preaching is useless. This passage underscores the resurrection as the cornerstone of Christian belief, without which the entire edifice of our faith crumbles. The Gospel from Luke 8:1-3 shifts our focus to the community that gathered around Jesus. It highlights the diverse group of followers, including women who were healed and supported Jesus's ministry financially and through their service. This passage reminds us that faith is not a solitary journey but one that is lived out in community, supported by the contributions of many.
The readings are connected by the theme of faith in action. In Corinthians, Paul links the resurrection to the validity of our faith, while in Luke, we see faith expressed through the tangible support and companionship of Jesus's followers. Together, they remind us that faith is both a belief in the risen Christ and a way of life that is lived out in community and service. The women mentioned in Luke, such as Mary Magdalene and Joanna, exemplify this active faith. They were not merely passive followers but were deeply invested in Jesus's mission, using their resources and talents to sustain it.
As we reflect on these readings, we are invited to examine our own faith and how we live it out. Do we truly believe in the power of the resurrection, and does that belief shape our daily lives? Are we contributing to the community of faith, using our unique gifts and resources to support one another and further the kingdom of God? The resurrection gives us hope and purpose, but it also calls us to act. Let us strive to live as people who are transformed by the risen Christ, embracing both the hope of eternal life and the responsibility to serve others in love. In doing so, we become part of a living, breathing community that reflects the light of Christ in a world that so desperately needs it.