Daily Readings - Sun Oct 29 2017
First Reading - Exodus 22.21-27
Exodus
Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.
Second Reading - 1 Thessalonians 1.5c-10
1 Thessalonians
For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Gospel - Matthew 22.34-40
Matthew
But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,Master, which is the great commandment in the law?Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.This is the first and great commandment.And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the heart of God’s law and the call to live a life of love, compassion, and faith. The first reading from Exodus emphasizes the importance of treating the vulnerable—newcomers, widows, orphans, and the poor—with justice and kindness. This passage reflects God’s special care for those who are marginalized and reminds us that our actions toward them are actions toward God. The second reading from 1 Thessalonians highlights the transformative power of the Gospel. The early Christian community in Thessalonica became a model of faith and joy, even in the face of suffering, because they embraced the Word of God with openness and courage. Their example encourages us to live our faith with authenticity and enthusiasm, inspiring others to do the same. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and the second is to love our neighbor as ourselves. These two commandments, Jesus says, are the foundation of the entire law and the prophets.
These readings are deeply connected. The command to love God and neighbor is not just a moral rule; it is the essence of who God is and how He calls us to live. In Exodus, we see this love expressed in concrete actions of justice and compassion toward the vulnerable. In Thessalonians, we see this love lived out in the joy and perseverance of the early Christians, who became a beacon of hope for others. In Matthew, Jesus simplifies the law to its core: love. Together, these readings remind us that faith is not just about words or rules but about how we live out our relationship with God and with one another.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How am I living out the commandment to love? Am I treating others with the same compassion and justice that God shows to me? Am I allowing the Gospel to transform my life and inspire others? Let us strive to be like the Thessalonians, who embraced the Word with joy and became a light to those around them. Let us also remember that love is not just a feeling but a choice—a choice to act with kindness, to stand with the vulnerable, and to reflect God’s love in all we do. May we, like the early Christians, become models of faith and love, shining the light of Christ in a world that so desperately needs it.