Daily Readings - Fri Sep 06 2024
1 Corinthians
1This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.2Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.4I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.5Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
Luke
33And they said to him, "The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink."34And Jesus said to them, "Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?35The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days."36He also told them a parable: "No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old.37And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed.38But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.39And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, 'The old is good.'"
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on faithfulness, judgment, and the newness of God’s work in our lives. In the first reading from 1 Corinthians, St. Paul reminds us that we are ministers of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. He emphasizes that our ultimate judgment comes not from others or even ourselves, but from the Lord. This calls us to humility and trust in God’s plan, recognizing that true evaluation of our lives will only be revealed when the Lord returns. Paul’s words remind us to focus on faithfulness rather than seeking human approval, as our true worth is measured by God alone.
In the Gospel, Jesus responds to the Pharisees’ criticism of His disciples’ lack of fasting by using vivid parables. He compares Himself to a groom whose presence brings joy, and He explains that new wine cannot be poured into old wineskins. Jesus is emphasizing that His teachings and way of life are fresh and transformative. The old ways of thinking and practicing religion cannot contain the new life He offers. This challenges us to embrace change and openness to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives, rather than clinging to comfortable but outdated habits.
Together, these readings encourage us to live with humility, trust, and openness. Like St. Paul, we are called to be faithful servants, trusting that God’s judgment is beyond human understanding. Like Jesus’ disciples, we are invited to embrace the newness of God’s kingdom, even when it disrupts our familiar ways. In our daily lives, this means being willing to let go of what is comfortable but limiting, and instead, to trust in God’s plan. Let us ask for the grace to be open to the Spirit’s renewal and to live with joyful trust in the Lord’s presence in our lives.