Daily Readings - Fri Oct 10 2025
Joel
13Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests; wail, O ministers of the altar. Go in, pass the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God! Because grain offering and drink offering are withheld from the house of your God.14Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.15Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes.
1Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming; it is near,2a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people; their like has never been before, nor will be again after them through the years of all generations.
Luke
15But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,"16while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven.17But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.18And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.19And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.20But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.21When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe;22but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.23Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.24"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.'25And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order.26Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first."
Sermon
The readings today from Joel and Luke guide us through themes of repentance and spiritual warfare, urging us to reflect on our inner lives and our relationship with God. Joel's prophecy calls us to lament and gather, recognizing the nearness of the Day of the Lord, which brings both judgment and an opportunity for repentance. This call is not just a warning but an invitation to seek God's mercy and grace. In Luke, Jesus confronts accusations about His power, emphasizing that His works are signs of God's kingdom. He teaches us that true strength lies not in casting out evil but in being filled with God's presence, ensuring that our hearts remain clean and resistant to further corruption.
Joel's context is one of impending doom, urging the community to turn back to God through fasting and prayer. This call to repentance is timeless, reminding us to examine our lives and seek purification. Jesus, in Luke, builds on this by highlighting the futility of a life without spiritual depth. His parable of the unclean spirit warns that mere superficial cleansing is insufficient; we must be filled with the Holy Spirit to avoid relapse into sin. This teaches us that our spiritual lives require constant nourishment and vigilance.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to embrace spiritual practices that strengthen our relationship with God. Whether through prayer, reflection, or community worship, we must actively seek to be filled with God's grace. The moral lesson here is clear: repentance is not just about turning away from sin but about turning towards God, ensuring our hearts are not just clean but also filled with His presence. Let us strive to create space for God, allowing His kingdom to take root in our lives, bringing light and hope in a world that often feels dark and divided.