Daily Readings - Sat Sep 07 2019
Colossians
21And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:23If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Luke
1And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.2And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?3And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;4How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?5And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of reconciliation, freedom, and the true spirit of God's law. In the first reading from Colossians, St. Paul reminds us that through Christ's death, we have been reconciled to God, once enemies because of sin, but now made holy and blameless in His sight. This reconciliation calls us to remain steadfast in our faith, grounded in the hope of the Gospel. The second reading from Luke presents a scene where Jesus and His disciples are criticized by the Pharisees for picking grain on the Sabbath. Jesus defends their actions by recalling how David, in his hunger, ate the bread of the Presence, which was reserved for priests. Jesus then declares that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath, emphasizing that human needs and compassion should take precedence over rigid legalism.
These readings are connected by the theme of freedom in Christ. In Colossians, we are freed from sin and alienation through Christ's reconciling death. In Luke, Jesus frees us from a narrow understanding of the law, showing that God's commandments are meant to serve humanity, not the other way around. The Pharisees focused on the letter of the law, while Jesus highlighted its spirit, which is love and service to others. This tension reminds us that our faith must always be rooted in love and compassion, rather than empty observance.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine how we live out our faith. Are we like the Pharisees, focusing on rules and appearances, or do we allow the spirit of the law to guide us? Do we recognize the freedom and reconciliation we have in Christ, and do we live in a way that reflects this? Let us strive to be people of compassion and love, always seeking to serve others and honor God in the way we live. As Jesus teaches, the Sabbath—and indeed all of life—was made for humanity, not humanity for the Sabbath. May we live in the freedom and grace of God's love.