Daily Readings - Tue Sep 10 2024

¹When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?²Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?³Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!⁴So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church?⁵I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers,⁶but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers?⁷To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?⁸But you yourselves wrong and defraud--even your own brothers!⁹Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,¹⁰nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.¹¹And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Luke

Chapter 6

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

In today's readings, we explore themes of community, conflict resolution, and the transformative power of faith. The first reading from 1 Corinthians addresses disputes among believers, urging them to resolve conflicts within the church rather than secular courts. Paul reminds the Corinthians of their sanctification through Christ, emphasizing a life free from sin. The Gospel from Luke describes Jesus selecting the Twelve Apostles and healing many, illustrating the expansion of His ministry and the community's role in spreading His teachings. The context of these readings reveals the challenges of the early Christian community. In Corinthians, Paul guides believers in handling internal disputes, highlighting the importance of wisdom and integrity within the church. In Luke, the selection of the Apostles marks a significant moment in preparing for the spread of Jesus' message, showcasing His healing power and the community's outreach. Both readings emphasize the importance of living as a sanctified people. Corinthians focuses on internal community dynamics, while Luke highlights expansion and outreach. Together, they remind us to resolve conflicts with love and seek wisdom within our faith community. The moral lesson is clear: live with integrity, avoid sin, and be instruments of healing and grace, reflecting Christ's transformative power in our lives.