Daily Readings - Tue Oct 27 2020
Ephesians
21Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.22Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.28So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.33Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Luke
18Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?19It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.20And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?21It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of relationships and the transformative power of God’s grace. In the first reading from Ephesians, St. Paul writes about the relationship between husbands and wives, emphasizing mutual respect and love. He calls wives to submit to their husbands as a reflection of the Church’s submission to Christ, and he urges husbands to love their wives with the same self-giving love that Christ has for the Church. This passage is often misunderstood, but its heart is not about hierarchy; it’s about mutual surrender and care, rooted in the belief that marriage is a sacrament that reflects the union of Christ and his Church.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses two parables to describe the Kingdom of God: the mustard seed and the leaven. The mustard seed, though small, grows into a great tree, providing shelter for the birds. The leaven, though hidden, transforms the entire batch of dough. These images remind us that God’s Kingdom often begins in small, unnoticed ways, but it has the power to transform and grow into something extraordinary. Like the mustard seed and leaven, our faith may seem insignificant at times, but it can have a profound impact when nurtured and allowed to grow.
Both readings encourage us to trust in the slow, often invisible work of God’s grace in our lives. Just as the mustard seed and leaven require time and patience to fulfill their purpose, our relationships and our faith require us to be patient, nurturing, and open to growth. In our marriages, families, and friendships, we are called to imitate Christ’s self-giving love, even when it’s challenging. And in our spiritual lives, we are reminded that even the smallest acts of faith can lead to great transformations. Let us ask for the grace to live with humility, patience, and love, allowing God’s Kingdom to take root and flourish in our hearts and in the world around us.