Daily Readings - Mon Oct 28 2024
Ephesians
19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,21in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.22In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Luke
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on our identity as followers of Christ and our role within the community of faith. In the first reading from Ephesians, we hear that we are no longer strangers or outsiders but are now citizens in the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone. This passage emphasizes that we are part of a living temple, a spiritual structure where God dwells among us. It reminds us that our faith is not a solitary journey but one that is deeply connected to the broader community of believers.
The Gospel from Luke complements this by showing us how Jesus formed a community of disciples to carry out His mission. After spending the night in prayer, Jesus chose twelve Apostles, each with their own unique backgrounds and personalities. This act of selection was not arbitrary; it was intentional, as Jesus was forming a group that would continue His work of preaching, healing, and bringing God’s love to the world. The scene that follows, with Jesus healing the sick and the crowd pressing in to touch Him, underscores the transformative power of His presence and the mission of those He called to follow Him.
These readings challenge us to reflect on our own place within the Body of Christ. Like the early Christians, we are called to be part of a living, breathing community that is built on the foundation of faith. Like the Apostles, we are summoned to participate in God’s work of healing and restoration, not just in grand gestures but in the everyday moments of love, kindness, and service. Let us ask ourselves: How am I contributing to the building up of God’s temple? How am I using my gifts and talents to bring healing and hope to those around me? May we, like the early Church, be a source of light and life, united in our diversity and strengthened by the presence of the Holy Spirit.