Daily Readings - Sat Sep 19 2020
1 Corinthians
35But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?36Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:37And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:42So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:43It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.45And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.46Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.47The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.48As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.49And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Luke
4And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:5A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.6And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.8And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.9And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?10And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.11Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.12Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.13They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.14And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.15But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Sermon
Today’s readings invite us to reflect on transformation and growth, both in our bodies and in our hearts. In the First Reading from 1 Corinthians, St. Paul speaks about the mystery of the resurrection. He compares the earthly body to the heavenly body, emphasizing that what is sown in weakness and corruption will rise in power and incorruption. This passage reassures us that our current state is not final; God has a glorious plan for our bodies and souls. The resurrection is not just a future hope but a present reality shaping how we live, urging us to trust in God’s transformative power.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower, highlighting the importance of receptive hearts. The seed represents God’s word, and the different soils symbolize how we receive it. Some hearts are distracted by worldly concerns, others are shallow, but those with good and noble hearts bear fruit in patience. This parable reminds us that spiritual growth requires nurturing our hearts, ensuring they are fertile ground for God’s word to take root.
Both readings call us to openness and trust. Just as the seed needs fertile soil to grow, our hearts must be open to God’s word. Let us cultivate hearts that are receptive and trusting, allowing His word to transform us. As we journey through life, may we trust in God’s power to bring forth fruit in our lives, just as He promises to raise our bodies in glory.