Daily Readings - Sat Oct 24 2020
Ephesians
7But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.9Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Luke
1There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.2And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?3I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.4Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?5I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.6He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.7Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?8And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:9And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we hear about the call to grow in faith and unity as followers of Christ. The first reading from Ephesians reminds us that each of us has been given gifts by God, and these gifts are not for our own benefit but for the building up of the body of Christ. The passage emphasizes the importance of unity and maturity in the faith, warning us against being swayed by false teachings and encouraging us to live in love and truth, growing together in Christ. The Gospel from Luke, on the other hand, presents a parable about a fig tree that fails to bear fruit, along with a stern warning about the necessity of repentance. Jesus uses these examples to remind us that our lives must bear fruit in accordance with God’s will, and if we do not repent and turn to Him, we risk spiritual death.
The readings are connected by the theme of spiritual growth and accountability. In Ephesians, we are called to use our gifts to edify the Church and to mature in our faith, while in Luke, we are reminded that our lives must produce fruit worthy of repentance. The fig tree in the parable is given another chance, symbolizing God’s mercy and patience, but it also serves as a warning that we cannot indefinitely delay turning to Him. Together, these readings challenge us to examine our lives and ensure that we are living in a way that reflects our commitment to Christ.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Am I using the gifts God has given me to build up others and grow in holiness? Am I bearing fruit in my life through acts of love, compassion, and fidelity to God’s will? The call to repentance is not about fear but about returning to the Lord with humility and openness to His grace. Let us pray for the strength to live in truth and love, and for the wisdom to use the time God gives us to grow in holiness. May we, like the fig tree, respond to God’s mercy with fruitful lives that glorify Him.