Daily Readings - Thu Sep 19 2019
1 Timothy
12Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.13Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.14Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.15Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.16Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Luke
36And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.37And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,38And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.39Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.40And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.41There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.42And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?43Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.44And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.45Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.47Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.48And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.49And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?50And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful lessons that guide us in our journey of faith. The first reading from 1 Timothy reminds us that our actions and demeanor should reflect our commitment to God. Timothy is urged to be an example in word, conduct, love, faith, and purity, emphasizing the importance of living out our beliefs. The second reading from Luke presents a vivid scene where a woman, known for her sins, anoints Jesus with ointment, demonstrating extraordinary love and faith. This act, often misunderstood by the Pharisees, is praised by Jesus, who sees the depth of her love and forgives her sins.
These readings, though from different contexts, share a common theme: the transformative power of faith and love. In 1 Timothy, Paul advises Timothy to embrace his role as a leader, using his gifts to inspire others. In Luke, the woman's actions show that true faith is not just about belief but about expressing love through humble service. Both readings highlight the importance of humility and genuine devotion, challenging us to reflect on how our actions align with our faith.
In our daily lives, these lessons encourage us to embody humility and love. Just as the woman anointed Jesus with ointment, we can serve others through selfless acts. Leadership, as Timothy is reminded, is not about authority but about serving with integrity and compassion. The moral here is clear: our faith should inspire us to love deeply and serve humbly, trusting in God's transformative power. Let us strive to live in such a way that our actions reflect the love and forgiveness we have received, allowing God to work through us in the lives of others.