Daily Readings - Mon Sep 09 2019
Colossians
24Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:25Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;26Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:29Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
1For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;2That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;3In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Luke
6And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.7And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.8But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.9Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?10And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.11And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on the mission of spreading God's word and the transformative power of love. The first reading from Colossians reveals St. Paul's deep commitment to his ministry, despite his sufferings. He sees his trials as a way to "complete what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ," not because Christ's sacrifice was insufficient, but because Paul's own life becomes an offering for the Church. He emphasizes that the mystery of God, once hidden, is now revealed through Christ, and he is called to announce this truth to all people, teaching and correcting them in wisdom so that they may be "perfect in Christ." Paul's passion for the Gospel shines through, even as he acknowledges the challenges of his mission.
The Gospel from Luke presents a vivid contrast between Jesus' compassion and the Pharisees' rigid adherence to the law. On the Sabbath, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand, despite knowing that the Pharisees are watching for any excuse to accuse him. His question to them—"Is it lawful to do good or evil on the Sabbath? To save a life or to destroy it?"—exposes the hypocrisy of their legalism. By healing the man, Jesus demonstrates that love and mercy must always take precedence over human rules. The Pharisees' anger reveals the hardness of their hearts, but Jesus' actions reveal the heart of God.
These readings remind us that our faith is not about following rules for their own sake but about living in love and service to others. Like Paul, we are called to embrace our own challenges as opportunities to grow in holiness and to share the Gospel with others. Like Jesus, we are called to act with compassion, even when it means going against the expectations of others. Let us reflect on how we can live more fully in this spirit of love and mission, allowing Christ to transform our hearts and our actions.