Daily Readings - Mon Sep 06 2021

Colossians

24Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:25Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;26Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:29Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
1For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;2That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;3In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Luke

6And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.7And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.8But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.9Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?10And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.11And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on the nature of God’s love and our response to it. The first reading from Colossians speaks of St. Paul’s deep union with Christ, as he describes his sufferings on behalf of the Church and the mystery of God’s plan revealed through Christ. Paul sees himself as a minister of the Church, entrusted with the task of making known the riches of God’s glory among all people. He emphasizes that Christ is the source of all wisdom and knowledge, and that our ultimate goal is to be perfected in him. The reading invites us to reflect on our own role in sharing the Gospel and living out our faith with integrity. The Gospel from Luke presents a dramatic scene in which Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. The Pharisees and scribes are more concerned with whether Jesus is breaking the law than with the man’s suffering. Jesus, however, sees beyond their legalism and acts with compassion, restoring the man’s hand. This act of healing sparks anger in his opponents, revealing the tension between rigid adherence to rules and the call to love and serve others. The passage challenges us to consider how we prioritize compassion and mercy in our own lives, especially when faced with societal or religious expectations. Both readings remind us that our faith is not just about rules or doctrines but about living out God’s love in the world. Paul’s suffering and Jesus’ act of healing demonstrate that true service to God involves self-giving love and a willingness to challenge the status quo for the sake of others. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we allowing Christ’s love to transform us? Are we willing to step out of our comfort zones to serve others, even when it requires courage or sacrifice? May we, like Paul and Jesus, be instruments of God’s healing and hope in a world that so desperately needs it.