Daily Readings - Mon Oct 29 2018

Ephesians

Chapter 4

³²And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

¹Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;²And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.³But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;⁴Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.⁵For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.⁶Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.⁷Be not ye therefore partakers with them.⁸For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Luke

Chapter 13

¹⁰And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.¹¹And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.¹²And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.¹³And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.¹⁴And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.¹⁵The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?¹⁶And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?¹⁷And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are reminded of the call to live as children of light and to embrace the freedom and healing that Christ offers. The first reading from Ephesians exhorts us to live with kindness, mercy, and forgiveness, imitating God’s love. It warns us against allowing sin to take root in our lives, urging us instead to walk in the light of Christ. The Gospel from Luke presents a vivid scene of Jesus healing a woman bent over for eighteen years, despite the objections of the synagogue ruler who insists that healing should not happen on the Sabbath. Jesus’ response highlights the hypocrisy of valuing rules over human dignity, emphasizing that the Sabbath is a day for restoration and freedom, not just rigid observance. These readings are deeply connected in their emphasis on living out God’s will in love and compassion. The Ephesians passage calls us to a life of holiness and gratitude, while the Gospel reminds us that true holiness is not about strict adherence to rules but about serving others and bringing healing to those in need. Together, they challenge us to examine how we live out our faith—whether we prioritize love and mercy or get caught up in empty traditions and legalism. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are there areas in my life where I am bound by unnecessary constraints or habits that prevent me from living fully as a child of God? Am I willing to step out of my comfort zone to bring light and healing to others? May we, like the woman in the Gospel, experience the liberating touch of Christ and, in turn, become instruments of His love and freedom for others. Let us walk as children of the light, always mindful of the transformative power of God’s mercy and the call to live with compassion and joy.