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Daily Readings - Tue Sep 22 2020

Proverbs

Chapter 21

1The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.3To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.4Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.5The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.6The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.10The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.11When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.12The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked; he throws the wicked down to ruin.13Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.

Luke

Chapter 8

19Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd.20And he was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you."21But he answered them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it."

Sermon

In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the essence of living according to God's will. The first reading from Proverbs reminds us that true wisdom lies in understanding that our actions and intentions are what truly matter. It emphasizes the importance of mercy, justice, and compassion, warning against the pitfalls of sin and laziness. The passage also highlights the responsibility to help those in need, as ignoring the poor's cry leads to being unheard. The Gospel from Luke offers a profound redefinition of family. Jesus teaches that his true family consists of those who not only hear God's word but also act upon it. This challenges us to move beyond mere lip service and to embody our faith through our actions. Connecting these readings, we see a clear call to live out our faith with integrity. Being part of God's family is not just about words but about deeds. Let us apply this by actively seeking justice, showing mercy, and helping those in need. Let our actions reflect our commitment to God's will, ensuring that we are true followers in both word and deed.