Daily Readings - Sat Oct 28 2017

First Reading - Ephesians 2.19-22

¹⁹Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;²⁰And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;²¹In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:²²In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Gospel - Luke 6.12-19

Luke

Chapter 6

¹²And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.¹³And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;¹⁴Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,¹⁵Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,¹⁶And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.¹⁷And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;¹⁸And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.¹⁹And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

Sermon

In today's readings, we are reminded of the profound truths about our identity and purpose as followers of Christ. The first reading from Ephesians 2:19-22 highlights our status as citizens in God's household, built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone. This passage emphasizes our unity and belonging within the body of Christ, where each member contributes to the construction of a holy temple in the Lord. The second reading from Luke 6:12-19 illustrates Jesus' prayerful selection of the twelve Apostles, followed by His ministry of healing and teaching to a multitude. This passage underscores Jesus' divine wisdom in choosing His disciples and His compassion in healing both physical and spiritual ailments. The context of Ephesians is a letter to the early Christian community, stressing the unity and solidarity of believers in Christ. It reminds us that we are not strangers but part of a larger family, with Christ as our foundation. In Luke, the context is Jesus' public ministry, where He prayerfully selects His disciples and begins His mission of preaching and healing. These readings relate to each other by emphasizing the importance of community and the role of Christ as the foundation and healer of that community. Applying this to our daily lives, we are called to recognize our role within the body of Christ and to support one another in building up the community. Just as the early church was built on a strong foundation, our lives should be grounded in faith, hope, and love. We are each called to be part of God's plan, using our unique gifts to contribute to the greater good. The moral lesson here is one of unity and purpose. We are all part of God's household, and our actions should reflect our commitment to building up the community and spreading the message of Christ. Let us strive to live as citizens of God's kingdom, united in our faith and purpose.