Daily Readings - Sat Sep 18 2021
1 Timothy
13I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;14That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:15Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
Luke
4And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:5A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.6And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.8And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.9And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?10And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.11Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.12Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.13They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.14And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.15But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the importance of fidelity to God and the transformative power of His Word in our lives. The first reading from 1 Timothy urges us to observe the commandment blamelessly and to await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. This passage emphasizes the eternal nature of God’s power and the ultimate triumph of His plan. The Gospel from Luke presents the parable of the sower, where Jesus teaches us about the different ways people receive the Word of God. Some hear it but lose it quickly, others receive it with joy but falter in times of trial, and still, others allow the distractions of the world to choke its fruitfulness. Only those with a good and noble heart, who persevere in faith, bear fruit in patience.
The context of these readings is clear: they call us to reflect on how we receive and respond to God’s Word in our own lives. In 1 Timothy, we are reminded of the ultimate revelation of God’s glory, which should inspire us to live with integrity and hope. In the parable of the sower, Jesus invites us to examine the soil of our hearts. Are we like the rocky ground, where faith fades under pressure? Or are we like the thorny soil, where the cares of the world distract us from nurturing God’s Word? The challenge is to become like the good soil, where the Word takes root and flourishes, leading to a life of fruitful discipleship.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: How do I receive God’s Word? Do I allow it to transform me, or do I let it be stolen away by the pressures and distractions of the world? Let us strive to cultivate hearts that are open, receptive, and patient. May we trust in the power of God’s Word to bring forth fruit in our lives, even in the midst of challenges. The moral lesson is clear: fidelity to God and a deep receptivity to His Word are the keys to a life of true spiritual fruitfulness.