Daily Readings - Tue Sep 21 2021
Ephesians
1I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,2With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;5One Lord, one faith, one baptism,6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.7But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Matthew
9And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.10And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.11And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?12But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.13But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore themes of unity, mercy, and the call to serve. The first reading from Ephesians encourages us to live in humility and patience, striving for unity as members of the body of Christ. It reminds us that each of us has been given unique gifts to build up the church, emphasizing our collective role in perfecting the saints and achieving unity in faith. The second reading from Matthew recounts Jesus' call to Matthew, a tax collector, and his dining with sinners, which prompts the Pharisees to question his actions. Jesus' response highlights his mission to call sinners and emphasizes mercy over sacrifice.
These readings connect through their focus on outreach and community. Ephesians provides the structure for a unified church, while Matthew illustrates Jesus' example of reaching out to the marginalized. Together, they remind us that our faith is not just about individual righteousness but about creating a compassionate and inclusive community.
In our daily lives, we are called to embrace our roles within the church, using our talents to serve others. Just as Jesus reached out to those on the fringes, we should extend love and mercy to those around us. The moral lesson here is the importance of unity, using our gifts, and showing compassion, reflecting Jesus' example of dining with sinners. Let us strive to build a community that embodies these values, remembering that our faith is a call to serve and to bring others into the fold.