Daily Readings - Mon Sep 17 2018
1 Corinthians
17Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.18For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.19For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.20When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.21For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.22What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.23For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.33Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
Luke
1Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.2And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.3And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.4And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:5For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.6Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:7Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.8For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.9When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.10And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful lessons about faith, humility, and unity. The first reading from 1 Corinthians challenges us to reflect on how we approach the Eucharist and our life together as a community. Paul rebukes the Corinthians for their divisions and selfishness during the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, reminding them that the Eucharist is not just a meal but a sacred act of unity and remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice. The second reading from Luke’s Gospel presents the story of the centurion, a man of great faith and humility, who seeks healing for his servant. Despite his position of authority, the centurion recognizes his unworthiness and trusts in Jesus’ power to heal from afar. Jesus, moved by the centurion’s faith, praises him as an example of what it means to trust in God’s providence.
The context of these readings reveals deeper truths about our relationship with God and with one another. In Corinth, the early Christian community was divided by social and economic disparities, which carried over into their celebration of the Eucharist. Paul calls them back to the true meaning of the sacrament, emphasizing that it is not just an individual act but a communal expression of unity and gratitude. In the Gospel, the centurion’s humility stands in stark contrast to the divisions in Corinth. Though he holds power, he does not let it cloud his recognition of his dependence on God. His faith is not about what he can do for himself but about trusting in God’s mercy and love.
These readings remind us that our faith must be lived out in humility and unity. Like the centurion, we are called to recognize our limitations and trust in God’s power to transform our lives. At the same time, we must guard against division and selfishness, as seen in Corinth, and instead strive to build up the Body of Christ through our actions and attitudes. In our daily lives, this means approaching the Eucharist with reverence and gratitude, caring for one another’s needs, and trusting in God’s plan even when we cannot see the full picture. Let us ask for the grace to live with the humility of the centurion and the unity that Christ desires for his Church.