Daily Readings - Sat Oct 31 2020

¹⁸What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.¹⁹For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,²⁰According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.²¹For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.²²But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.²³For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:²⁴Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.²⁵And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;²⁶That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

Luke

Chapter 14

¹And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.⁷And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,⁸When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;⁹And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.¹⁰But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.¹¹For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the virtues of humility and trust in God’s providence. The first reading from Philippians finds St. Paul in prison, yet his spirit remains unbroken. He rejoices because, despite his confinement, the Gospel is being preached, and he is confident that God will bring good out of his suffering. Paul’s trust in God’s plan is unwavering, and he sees his situation not as an end but as an opportunity for Christ to be glorified. His words remind us that our ultimate goal is to live and die for Christ, knowing that true life is found in Him. The Gospel from Luke presents a parable that underscores the importance of humility. Jesus observes how guests at a banquet rush to take the places of honor, only to risk being humiliated if someone more distinguished arrives. He teaches that true greatness comes not from seeking recognition but from embracing humility. This lesson challenges us to examine our own attitudes and behaviors, especially in social settings. It reminds us that humility is not about self-deprecation but about recognizing our place and letting God exalt us in His time. Together, these readings call us to live with humility and trust in God’s plan. Like Paul, we may face challenges or setbacks, but we can rejoice knowing that God works through all things for our good. And like the guests in the parable, we are invited to embrace humility, not for the sake of appearances, but as a way of life. Let us strive to live in such a way that Christ is magnified in us, whether in times of trial or in our everyday interactions. May we find joy in trusting God’s plan and in living with the humility that reflects the heart of Christ.