Daily Readings - Mon Oct 21 2024
Ephesians
1And you were dead in the trespasses and sins2in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--3among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.4But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,5even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--6and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,7so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,9not a result of works, so that no one may boast.10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Luke
13Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."14But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?"15And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."16And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully,17and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?'18And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.19And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.'20But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'21So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound truths about grace, wealth, and our relationship with God. The first reading from Ephesians reminds us that we are saved by grace through faith, not by our own works. It emphasizes that our salvation is a gift from God, who has created us for good works. This passage highlights the unity and purpose we find in Christ, being His handiwork, and the abundance of His grace.
The Gospel from Luke presents the parable of the rich fool, who, in his pursuit of wealth, forgets the true richness that comes from God. Jesus warns against greed and the illusion of security through material possessions. This parable teaches us to focus on spiritual wealth, recognizing that our lives are not measured by what we own but by our relationship with God.
Both readings call us to reflect on our priorities. Ephesians encourages us to trust in God's grace and live out our faith through good works, while Luke's parable warns against the dangers of materialism. Together, they remind us to seek spiritual growth and generosity, avoiding the trap of worldly wealth. The moral lesson is clear: true wealth lies in our connection with God, and we should strive to be rich in His eyes, living with gratitude and humility.