Daily Readings - Tue Oct 12 2021
Romans
16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.21For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.22Claiming to be wise, they became fools,23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.24Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,25because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Luke
37While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table.38The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner.39And the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.40You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also?41But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the relationship between outward appearances and inward realities. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul emphasizes the power of the Gospel to reveal God’s justice and salvation. He warns, however, that when people reject God’s truth, they fall into darkness, exchanging the glory of the Creator for false idols. This passage reminds us that turning away from God leads to spiritual corruption and a distorted understanding of the world. In the Gospel, Jesus confronts the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. While they focus on external purity, such as washing cups and plates, their hearts remain filled with greed and injustice. Jesus calls them fools for neglecting the inner transformation that true faith demands.
These readings are connected by the theme of authenticity in our relationship with God. The Pharisees in the Gospel represent those who prioritize outward rituals over inward conversion, while St. Paul warns against the spiritual decay that results when we reject God’s truth. Together, they challenge us to examine our own lives. Are we more concerned with appearances, or are we allowing the Gospel to transform us from within? True faith is not about external observances but about living in accordance with God’s justice and love.
In our daily lives, this means taking an honest look at our motivations and actions. Do we serve God with sincerity, or are we content with superficial practices? The moral lesson here is clear: our hearts must be purified and aligned with God’s will. Let us not be like the Pharisees, who missed the deeper truth of faith. Instead, let us allow the Gospel to penetrate our hearts, leading us to live with integrity and to serve others with love. In doing so, we will embody the justice and truth of God in a world that sorely needs it.