Daily Readings - Tue Sep 10 2019
Colossians
6As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:7Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.10And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:11In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:12Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Luke
12And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.13And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;14Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,15Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,16And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.17And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;18And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.19And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.
Sermon
In today's readings, we find powerful messages about living in Christ and experiencing His transformative power. The first reading from Colossians reminds us to be rooted in our faith, avoiding the deceptive philosophies of the world, and to find completeness in Christ. The second reading from Luke illustrates Jesus' ministry, where He chooses His apostles after a night of prayer and heals many, showcasing His divine authority and compassion.
The context of Colossians is a church facing heretical teachings, prompting Paul to emphasize Christ's sufficiency. In Luke, Jesus' prayerful selection of apostles and His healing miracles highlight His reliance on God and His mission to bring healing and hope. Both readings underscore the centrality of Christ: Colossians focuses on spiritual growth, while Luke demonstrates Christ's authority and the Church's foundation through the apostles.
Applying this to our lives, we are called to stay grounded in Christ, trusting in His power and living out our faith in our communities. The moral lesson is clear: a strong spiritual foundation in Christ and trust in His power are essential for navigating life's challenges. Let us seek to deepen our faith and share Christ's love in our daily lives.