Daily Readings - Thu Oct 23 2025
Romans
19I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.20When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.21But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death.22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Luke
49"I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!50I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!51Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.52For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three.53They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the profound transformation that comes with following Christ and the challenges that accompany it. The first reading from Romans speaks of the shift from a life of sin to one of justice and sanctification. Paul emphasizes that just as we once surrendered our bodies to serve impurity, we are now called to yield ourselves to God’s justice. This transformation is not merely about behavior but about a radical change in our very being, leading to eternal life. The second reading from Luke presents a more intense and provocative message. Jesus speaks of casting fire upon the earth, a fire that will bring division even among family members. He makes it clear that His mission is not to bring peace but to disrupt the status quo, calling us to stand firm in our commitment to Him, even when it leads to conflict.
These readings, though seemingly contrasting, are deeply connected. Both invite us to reflect on the nature of our relationship with God and the world. Paul’s letter highlights the internal transformation required to live as children of God, while Luke’s Gospel underscores the external consequences of that transformation. Jesus’ words about division remind us that living a life of justice and sanctification will not always be easy or popular. It may require us to stand apart from those around us, even those closest to us, as we align ourselves with God’s will.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are called to examine our own commitment to living as servants of God. Are we willing to embrace the challenges that come with following Christ? Are we prepared to stand firm in our faith, even when it leads to division or discomfort? The moral lesson here is clear: our ultimate goal is eternal life, and this requires us to surrender ourselves fully to God’s justice and sanctification. Let us pray for the strength to embrace this transformative journey, trusting that the fire of God’s love will purify and guide us, even in the face of adversity.