Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 10, 2018
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 5.1-8
1It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.2And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.3For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,4In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,5To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.6Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?7Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:8Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Psalm 5
1Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.2Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.3My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.4For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.5The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.6Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.7But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.8Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.9For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.10Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.11But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.12For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
Gospel: Luke 6.6-11
6And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.7And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.8But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.9Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?10And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.11And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the balance between justice and mercy, and how we, as followers of Christ, are called to live with integrity and compassion. In the first reading from 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses a serious moral issue in the Corinthian community—a case of grave immorality that has gone unchecked. He calls the community to act decisively, not out of malice or self-righteousness, but to preserve the holiness and purity of the Body of Christ. Paul reminds us that sin can have a corrosive effect on the entire community, much like leaven spreads through dough. He urges them to remove the "old leaven" of malice and wickedness and to live as the "new bread" of sincerity and truth, for Christ has already been sacrificed as our Passover.
In the Gospel, Luke presents a scene where Jesus confronts the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. On the Sabbath, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand, challenging the rigid legalism of those who would rather debate the law than show compassion. Jesus’ question—“Is it lawful to do good or evil on the Sabbath?”—exposes the hardness of their hearts. While the Pharisees are consumed by anger and plotting against him, Jesus simply acts with love and restores the man’s hand. This act of healing is not just a miracle; it is a revelation of God’s true nature: merciful, compassionate, and always seeking the good of his children.
Both readings remind us that our faith is not just about rules or rituals but about living in a way that reflects God’s love and justice. In our daily lives, we are called to examine our own hearts and actions. Are we allowing sin or complacency to take root in our lives or in our communities? Are we more focused on judgment than on mercy, more on appearances than on true love? Let us strive to be people of integrity and compassion, purging the "old leaven" of selfishness and hypocrisy, and living instead as the "unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." May we, like Christ, always choose to do good, even when it challenges the status quo, and may we bring healing and hope to a world in need.