Daily Readings - Mon Oct 19 2020
Ephesians
1And you were dead in the trespasses and sins2in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--3among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.4But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,5even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--6and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,7so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,9not a result of works, so that no one may boast.10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Luke
13Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."14But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?"15And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."16And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully,17and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?'18And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.19And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.'20But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'21So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
Sermon
In today's readings, we hear powerful messages about grace, wealth, and the true nature of our existence. The first reading from Ephesians reminds us that we were once dead in our sins, but through God’s immense mercy and grace, we have been brought to life in Christ. This passage emphasizes that our salvation is a gift from God, not something we can earn through our own efforts. It invites us to recognize that we are God’s handiwork, created for good works, and to live in a way that reflects the abundant grace we have received.
The Gospel from Luke offers a stark contrast to this spiritual wealth. Jesus tells the parable of the rich man who becomes so focused on accumulating possessions that he forgets the true purpose of his life. The man’s obsession with storing up wealth leads to his spiritual poverty, and in the end, he loses everything that truly matters. This story warns us against the dangers of greed and materialism, urging us to examine where we place our trust and security.
Together, these readings call us to reflect on our priorities. Ephesians encourages us to embrace the grace of God and live as people transformed by His love. Luke’s parable challenges us to let go of our attachment to material possessions and instead seek true wealth in our relationship with God. In our daily lives, this means trusting in God’s providence, using the resources we have to serve others, and remembering that our ultimate inheritance is not in this world but in the life to come. Let us strive to live with hearts that are rich in faith, generosity, and love, rather than being consumed by the fleeting allure of earthly wealth.