Daily Readings - Tue Sep 13 2022
1 Corinthians
12For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit.14For the body does not consist of one member but of many.27Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.28And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?30Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?31But earnestly desire the higher gifts.And I will show you a still more excellent way.
Luke
11Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him.12As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her.13And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."14Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."15And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.16Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!"17And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the profound unity and diversity within the Body of Christ, as well as the compassionate power of God at work in the world. In the first reading from 1 Corinthians, St. Paul emphasizes that the Church is one body made up of many parts, each with its own unique role and gift. He reminds us that no part of the body can exist independently of the others; we are all interconnected and interdependent. This teaching challenges us to recognize the value of every person in the Church and to seek the greater gifts that build up the entire community.
In the Gospel, Luke presents a vivid scene of Jesus’ compassion and divine authority. As Jesus encounters a widow mourning the loss of her only son, he is moved by mercy and performs a miraculous act of raising the young man from death. This story highlights Jesus’ deep empathy for those suffering and his power to transform even the most desperate situations. The crowd’s response—fear, glorification of God, and recognition of Jesus as a prophet—reminds us that God’s actions in the world always point to his love and care for his people.
These readings invite us to reflect on our place within the Body of Christ and how we can live out our faith in a way that reflects God’s compassion and unity. Just as Jesus reached out to the widow and her son, we are called to be instruments of God’s mercy in the lives of others. Whether through our unique gifts, our prayers, or our acts of service, we are part of the larger story of God’s work in the world. Let us strive to live in unity and mutual support, trusting that God’s grace will flow through us to touch the lives of those around us.