Daily Readings - Fri Sep 16 2022
1 Corinthians
12Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.14And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.15We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.16For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.19If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.20But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Luke
1Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him,2and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,3and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on faith, hope, and the resurrection. The first reading from 1 Corinthians 15 emphasizes the centrality of the resurrection in our Christian faith. St. Paul reminds us that if Christ has not risen, then our preaching and faith are in vain. He underscores that the resurrection is not just a distant hope but the very foundation of our belief. Without it, the entire edifice of Christianity crumbles. The Gospel from Luke 8, on the other hand, presents us with a vivid image of Jesus’ ministry, accompanied by the Twelve Apostles and several women who were healed and supported Him. This passage highlights the communal nature of discipleship and the diverse group of individuals who followed Jesus, each contributing to His mission in their own way.
The connection between these readings lies in their emphasis on the transformative power of faith and the importance of living out that faith in community. In Corinthians, Paul’s focus on the resurrection is a call to trust in God’s power to overcome even death itself. In Luke, we see this faith in action through the lives of those who followed Jesus, including the women who were healed and now ministered to Him. Their stories remind us that faith is not just a belief but a way of life that shapes how we love, serve, and support one another.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How does the hope of the resurrection shape our daily lives? Do we live with the confidence that Christ’s victory over death gives us the strength to face life’s challenges? Let us also consider how we, like the women in Luke’s Gospel, can use our unique gifts and experiences to support one another in living out the Gospel. May we remember that our faith is not in vain, for Christ has indeed risen, and His resurrection is the first fruits of our own. Let us strive to live as people of hope, trusting in God’s plan and working together to build a community rooted in love and faith.