Daily Readings - Wed Oct 28 2020
Ephesians
19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,21in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.22In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Luke
12In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.13And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:14Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew,15and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,16and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.17And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon,18who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured.19And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of our place within the body of Christ and the call to serve. The first reading from Ephesians highlights our identity as citizens in God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone. This passage emphasizes our unity and purpose as part of a larger community, where each member contributes to the whole.
The Gospel from Luke illustrates this unity in action. Jesus, after a night of prayer, selects twelve apostles and descends to a place where a multitude gathers. Here, he heals and ministers, demonstrating the active role of the church in reaching out to the world. The connection between the readings lies in their focus on community—Ephesians on the structure and Luke on the dynamic mission of the church.
As we reflect on these readings, we are called to recognize our role within the body of Christ. We are not merely individuals but part of a community with a shared purpose. Our faith should inspire us to serve and care for others, just as Jesus did. Let us embrace our role in the church, supporting one another and reaching out to the world with love and healing. In doing so, we become the living temple of God, where His Spirit dwells and His work continues through us.