Daily Readings - Mon Oct 22 2018
Ephesians
1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:9Not of works, lest any man should boast.10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Luke
13And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.14And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?15And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.16And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:17And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?18And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.19And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?21So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of the transformative power of grace and the dangers of materialism. The Epistle from Ephesians highlights our salvation through grace by faith, not by works, and how we are called to live out this grace in good works. The Gospel from Luke, through the parable of the rich fool, warns against the pitfalls of covetousness and the fleeting nature of material wealth.
Both readings, though distinct, complement each other by emphasizing the importance of spiritual wealth over earthly possessions. Ephesians encourages us to recognize the gift of salvation and to express this through acts of love and service. Luke's parable cautions us against becoming so focused on accumulating wealth that we neglect our relationship with God and others.
In our daily lives, let us embrace the grace we've been given with gratitude and humility. Let us not take credit for the blessings in our lives but instead use them to serve others. May we cultivate a spirit of contentment and generosity, remembering that true wealth lies in our relationship with God and in eternal treasures. As we navigate the world's temptations, may we always seek to be rich in God's eyes.