Daily Readings - Wed Sep 04 2024
1 Corinthians
1But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.2I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,3for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?4For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human?5What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.6I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.8He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.9For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.
Luke
38And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf.39And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.40Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.41And demons also came out of many, crying, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.42And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them,43but he said to them, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose."44And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from 1 Corinthians reminds us that while we may have different ministers and teachers in our faith journey, it is God who ultimately gives the growth. Paul uses the metaphor of planting and watering to illustrate that our efforts, though necessary, are secondary to God's divine action. This teaches us humility and trust in God's providence, urging us to move beyond divisions and focus on our shared mission.
The Gospel from Luke showcases Jesus' compassion and authority as He heals the sick and preaches the kingdom of God. Despite the demands of the crowd, Jesus remains committed to His mission, demonstrating that true service is rooted in love and dedication. His actions remind us that our faith should be active, reaching out to those in need and proclaiming the Good News.
Together, these readings call us to trust in God's power, seek unity, and live out our faith with compassion and commitment. Let us embrace our roles as instruments of God's work, knowing that He is the source of all growth and strength. In doing so, we find true fulfillment and purpose in our lives.