Daily Readings - Sat Oct 23 2021
Romans
1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.2For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.6To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.7For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.8Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.9You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.10But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.11If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
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 encounter two powerful messages that invite us to reflect on our spiritual lives. The first reading from Romans reminds us of the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. Paul explains that through Christ, we are no longer bound by the flesh but are set free to live according to the Spirit. This life in the Spirit brings peace and justification, and it is through the Spirit that our mortal bodies can be enlivened. The Gospel, however, presents a different tone. Jesus responds to tragic events by emphasizing the importance of repentance. He warns that suffering does not necessarily indicate greater sin but rather serves as a call for all to turn away from sin. The parable of the fig tree reinforces this message, illustrating God’s patience and mercy, giving us time to bear fruit through repentance and care.
The readings complement each other by highlighting the necessity of spiritual transformation. Romans focuses on the internal change brought by the Spirit, while the Gospel emphasizes the external response of repentance. Together, they remind us that living a fruitful and Spirit-led life requires both inner renewal and outward conversion. The context of Romans is one of theological reflection, explaining the benefits of life in Christ, while Luke’s Gospel is set in a more urgent tone, with Jesus addressing the crowds and using parables to drive home the importance of repentance.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to examine our relationship with God and our neighbors. Are we living according to the flesh or the Spirit? Are we bearing fruit in our lives, or are we standing stagnant like the unproductive fig tree? The moral lesson here is clear: repentance and spiritual renewal are not one-time events but ongoing processes. Just as the fig tree is given another chance to bear fruit, we too are given the opportunity to turn our lives around and live in a way that reflects the Spirit of God. Let us embrace this mercy and strive to live lives that are fruitful and pleasing to God.