Daily Readings - Sat Oct 24 2020
Ephesians
7But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.8Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men."9(In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth?10He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)11And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,12to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,13until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,14so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.15Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,16from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Luke
1There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.2And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?3No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.4Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?5No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."6And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.7And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?'8And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure.9Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"
Sermon
In today’s readings, we hear about the call to grow in faith and unity as followers of Christ. The first reading from Ephesians reminds us that each of us has been given gifts by God, and these gifts are not for our own benefit but for the building up of the body of Christ. The passage emphasizes the importance of unity and maturity in the faith, warning us against being swayed by false teachings and encouraging us to live in love and truth, growing together in Christ. The Gospel from Luke, on the other hand, presents a parable about a fig tree that fails to bear fruit, along with a stern warning about the necessity of repentance. Jesus uses these examples to remind us that our lives must bear fruit in accordance with God’s will, and if we do not repent and turn to Him, we risk spiritual death.
The readings are connected by the theme of spiritual growth and accountability. In Ephesians, we are called to use our gifts to edify the Church and to mature in our faith, while in Luke, we are reminded that our lives must produce fruit worthy of repentance. The fig tree in the parable is given another chance, symbolizing God’s mercy and patience, but it also serves as a warning that we cannot indefinitely delay turning to Him. Together, these readings challenge us to examine our lives and ensure that we are living in a way that reflects our commitment to Christ.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Am I using the gifts God has given me to build up others and grow in holiness? Am I bearing fruit in my life through acts of love, compassion, and fidelity to God’s will? The call to repentance is not about fear but about returning to the Lord with humility and openness to His grace. Let us pray for the strength to live in truth and love, and for the wisdom to use the time God gives us to grow in holiness. May we, like the fig tree, respond to God’s mercy with fruitful lives that glorify Him.