Daily Readings - Thu Sep 06 2018
1 Corinthians
18Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.20And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.21Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;22Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;23And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
Luke
1And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,2And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.3And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.5And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.6And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.7And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.9For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:10And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.11And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound lessons on wisdom and faith. The first reading from 1 Corinthians 3:18-23 cautions against the allure of worldly wisdom, which is fleeting and often deceptive. Paul reminds us that true wisdom lies in recognizing that all things belong to those who belong to Christ, urging us to look beyond human achievements and earthly divisions. This passage is set against the backdrop of the Corinthian church, where divisions arose as members aligned themselves with different leaders. Paul's message is a call to unity and humility, emphasizing that our true allegiance is to Christ.
The Gospel from Luke 5:1-11 presents a pivotal moment in the ministry of Jesus. By the Lake of Gennesaret, Jesus performs a miraculous catch of fish, leading Simon Peter to a profound realization of his own sinfulness and Jesus' divine authority. This miracle serves as a call to discipleship, symbolizing the transition from a life of ordinary labor to one dedicated to spiritual pursuits. The context is the early Galilean ministry of Jesus, where He begins to gather His disciples, demonstrating His power and authority to those who would follow Him.
These readings intertwine beautifully, as the Corinthians' warning against worldly wisdom finds its antidote in the Gospel's call to trust in God's plan. Simon Peter's humility and willingness to obey Jesus, despite the seeming foolishness of the task, exemplify the true wisdom spoken of by Paul. This teaches us to approach life with humility, trusting in God's wisdom even when it challenges our understanding.
In our daily lives, we are often faced with choices that require us to step out in faith, just as Simon Peter did. The readings encourage us to embrace humility and trust in God's providence, even when the path seems uncertain. The moral lesson here is clear: true wisdom is found in surrendering to God's will, recognizing that all we have and are is a gift from Him. Let us, like Simon Peter, respond with humility and obedience, allowing God to guide us into deeper waters, where He promises an abundance beyond our wildest imagination.