Daily Readings - Sat Sep 23 2017
First Reading - 1 Timothy 6.13-16
1 Timothy
13I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;14That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:15Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
Gospel - Luke 8.4-15
Luke
4And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:5A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.6And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.8And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.9And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?10And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.11Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.12Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.13They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.14And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.15But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the enduring power of God’s word and the call to fidelity. The first reading from 1 Timothy encourages Timothy to remain faithful, observing the commandment until Christ’s return. This passage underscores the importance of perseverance and trust in God’s plan. The Gospel from Luke presents the parable of the sower, where Jesus teaches about the different ways people receive God’s word. This parable invites us to reflect on how we ourselves receive and nurture God’s message in our lives.
Both readings, though distinct, share a common theme of receptivity and endurance. In 1 Timothy, the focus is on steadfastness in faith, while Luke’s parable highlights the varying responses to God’s word. The parable serves as a mirror, prompting us to examine our own hearts and how we allow God’s word to take root. The challenge is to be like the good soil—open, receptive, and nurturing—so that God’s word can bear fruit in our lives.
In our daily lives, this means cultivating patience and faithfulness. Just as the seed needs time and care to grow, our spiritual lives require consistent effort and openness to God’s grace. The moral lesson here is clear: perseverance and receptivity are essential for spiritual growth. May we strive to be the good soil, allowing God’s word to transform us, even amidst life’s challenges, and may we bear fruit in patience and love.