Daily Readings - Sun Mar 03 2019

1 Corinthians

54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Luke

39And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?40The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.41And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?42Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.43For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.44For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the essence of faith, self-examination, and the authenticity of our actions. The first reading from Sirach reminds us that true faith must be steadfast, even in the face of trials. It uses vivid metaphors—a sieve and a furnace—to illustrate how our commitment to God is tested, revealing the genuineness of our hearts. This passage encourages us to embrace challenges as opportunities to deepen our faith, much like refining fire purifies metal. The second reading from 1 Corinthians shifts our focus to the ultimate triumph of faith over death. Paul emphasizes that through Christ, death loses its power, and sin is stripped of its authority. This reading offers a message of hope, reminding us that our struggles are not in vain, as we are assured of victory through Jesus. It calls us to stand firm in our faith, knowing that our efforts to live a virtuous life are not futile but are instead fruitful in God’s eyes. The Gospel from Luke challenges us to introspection and humility. Jesus’ parables remind us that we cannot lead others if we ourselves are not guided by wisdom. The striking image of seeing a straw in another’s eye while ignoring the log in our own highlights the hypocrisy of judging others without first examining ourselves. Jesus teaches that our words and actions are reflections of the state of our hearts, urging us to cultivate goodness within so that our outward expressions may be sincere and life-giving. As we apply these teachings to our daily lives, we are reminded to approach each challenge with faith, trusting in God’s plan. We must be honest with ourselves, acknowledging our own shortcomings before addressing those of others. Let us nurture our hearts with love and compassion, ensuring that our actions and words bear witness to the good news of Christ. In doing so, we embody the hope and integrity that these readings call us to, living as fruitful branches of the vine that is Christ.