Daily Readings - Mon Oct 30 2023
Romans
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.12So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.13For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"16The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,17and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Luke
10Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.11And there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself.12When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your disability."13And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God.14But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day."15Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it?16And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?"17As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about freedom and compassion. The first reading from Romans reminds us that through the Holy Spirit, we are freed from the bondage of sin and death, becoming children of God. This Spirit not only gives us life but also calls us to live in a way that reflects our divine adoption, sharing in Christ's sufferings and glory. The Gospel from Luke illustrates this freedom through Jesus' healing of a woman on the Sabbath, challenging the legalistic views of the synagogue ruler. Jesus emphasizes that compassion should not be confined by rules, highlighting the importance of mercy over rigid adherence to law.
Both readings emphasize living in the Spirit and expressing compassion. In Romans, Paul contrasts flesh and Spirit, urging believers to choose a Spirit-led life. Similarly, Luke's Gospel shows Jesus freeing someone from physical and spiritual bondage, demonstrating that true freedom involves compassion. This connection invites us to reflect on how we live out our faith—whether we prioritize love and mercy or get entangled in legalism.
In our daily lives, let us embrace the freedom offered by the Holy Spirit, choosing to live compassionately. Just as Jesus healed on the Sabbath, we should not let rules hinder our ability to show love. Let us remember that true freedom in Christ means serving others with mercy and kindness, reflecting the transformative power of the Spirit. May we, as children of God, live with hearts open to His will, prioritizing love and compassion in all we do.