Daily Readings - Sat Sep 11 2021
1 Timothy
15This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.16Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.17Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Luke
43For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.44For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.46And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?47Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:48He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.49But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the transformative power of God’s mercy and the importance of living a life rooted in faith. In the first reading from 1 Timothy, St. Paul humbly acknowledges himself as the foremost of sinners, yet he emphasizes that it was precisely through God’s mercy that he was transformed. This transformation was not just for his own sake but to serve as an example for others, showing that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. The reading concludes with a beautiful doxology, praising God’s eternal glory and invisible nature, highlighting the majesty and mystery of the divine.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the connection between our hearts and our actions. He uses the metaphor of trees and their fruit to illustrate that the quality of our actions reflects the state of our hearts. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and an evil tree cannot bear good fruit. Jesus then challenges us to examine our relationship with His teachings. He distinguishes between those who merely call Him “Lord” and those who truly listen to and act on His words. The parable of the two builders drives this point home: the one who builds on rock (obedience to God’s will) endures life’s storms, while the one who builds on sand (disobedience or superficial faith) faces ruin.
These readings call us to reflect on the authenticity of our faith. Like St. Paul, we are all sinners in need of God’s mercy, but that mercy is not just a gift—it’s a call to transformation. Jesus invites us to move beyond superficial devotion and instead build our lives on the solid foundation of His teachings. In our daily lives, this means not just hearing the Word of God but also putting it into practice. Let us ask ourselves: Are our actions consistent with our faith? Are we building our lives on the rock of obedience to Christ, or are we settling for a shallow faith that cannot withstand life’s challenges? May we strive to live in such a way that the fruit of our lives reflects the goodness of God’s grace at work within us.