Daily Readings - Sat Oct 28 2023
Ephesians
19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,21in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.22In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Luke
12In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.13And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:14Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew,15and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,16and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.17And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon,18who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured.19And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.
Sermon
The first reading from Ephesians reminds us that we, as followers of Christ, are not strangers or outsiders but are instead citizens in the household of God. We are part of a living temple, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone. This passage emphasizes our unity and belonging within the Body of Christ, where each of us has a place and a purpose. The second reading from Luke’s Gospel shows Jesus at prayer, choosing his twelve Apostles, and then descending to a place where he heals the sick and brings hope to the multitude. This passage highlights Jesus’ deep connection with the Father, his mission to heal and restore, and the call to follow him in serving others.
Both readings are connected by the theme of community and mission. In Ephesians, we see the Church as a spiritual temple, built on the foundation of faith and united in Christ. In Luke’s Gospel, we see the beginnings of that community—the selection of the Apostles, who would become the leaders of the early Church, and Jesus’ ministry of healing, which reflects God’s love and mercy. Together, these readings remind us that we are part of something much larger than ourselves—a community called to live out God’s love and to bring healing and hope to the world.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How am I contributing to the building up of God’s temple? Am I rooted in prayer and faith? Am I reaching out to others, especially those in need of healing or comfort? Let us strive to live as citizens of God’s household, united in Christ and committed to his mission. May we, like the Apostles, be willing to follow Jesus and to serve others, trusting in his power to transform lives. In doing so, we become living stones in the temple of God, a place where his love and light shine forth for all to see.