Daily Readings - Tue Oct 25 2022
Ephesians
21submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.22Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.23For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.25Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,26that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,27so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.28In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.29For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,30because we are members of his body.31"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."32This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.33However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Luke
18He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?19It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches."20And again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?21It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we hear two powerful reflections on growth, transformation, and the nature of God’s kingdom. The first reading from Ephesians emphasizes the sacred relationship between husbands and wives, calling them to live in mutual submission and love, mirroring the relationship between Christ and the Church. The passage reminds us that marriage is not just a human institution but a sacrament that reflects the love and sacrifice of Christ for his bride, the Church. Husbands are called to love their wives selflessly, just as Christ loves the Church, while wives are invited to embrace their role with reverence and respect. This passage challenges us to see marriage as a vocation, a way of living out the Gospel in our daily lives.
The Gospel from Luke offers two parables about the kingdom of God: the mustard seed and the leaven. These images remind us that God’s kingdom often begins small and unnoticed but grows into something extraordinary. The mustard seed, though tiny, becomes a great tree that shelters all who come to it. Similarly, the leaven, though hidden in dough, transforms the entire batch. These parables teach us about the quiet, transformative power of God’s work in the world. Just as the mustard seed and leaven bring life and nourishment, our faith, though it may seem small or insignificant, has the power to transform our lives and the lives of others.
Both readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our faith in our relationships and in the world. The Ephesians passage calls us to live with humility, love, and mutual respect, recognizing that our relationships are a reflection of God’s love. The parables in Luke remind us to trust in God’s power to grow and transform, even when we feel small or inadequate. Let us ask ourselves: Are we allowing God’s love to transform our relationships? Are we trusting in the quiet, hidden ways God is working in our lives and in the world? May we embrace the humility and trust that allows God’s kingdom to flourish in us and through us.