Daily Readings - Fri Oct 22 2021
Romans
18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.21I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.24O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Luke
54And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.55And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.56Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?57Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?58When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.59I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on the human condition and our relationship with God. The first reading from Romans describes the internal struggle of St. Paul, who laments the tension between his desire to do good and his inability to fully achieve it due to the presence of sin within him. He acknowledges the law of God that delights his inner being, but he is also aware of another law at work in his body, warring against his mind and binding him to sin. This struggle is both deeply personal and universally relatable, as we all experience the gap between our aspirations and our actions.
The Gospel reading from Luke shifts our focus outward, as Jesus challenges the crowd to examine their spiritual awareness. He criticizes them for being able to interpret the signs of nature—such as clouds and wind—yet failing to discern the signs of the times spiritually. Jesus urges them to settle their disputes quickly and to avoid the consequences of judgment, warning that once we are entangled in conflict, it can lead to a kind of spiritual imprisonment from which it is hard to escape. Together, these readings invite us to reflect on our own self-awareness and our relationship with God and others.
These readings call us to recognize the tension within ourselves between good and evil, light and darkness. Like St. Paul, we may feel trapped by our own weaknesses, but we are reminded that our liberation comes through the grace of God in Jesus Christ. At the same time, Jesus’ words in the Gospel challenge us to be honest about our spiritual state and to act with urgency in seeking reconciliation and justice. Let us ask ourselves: Do we acknowledge our own struggles and limitations? Are we attentive to the signs of God’s presence in our lives? Let us turn to God with humility, seeking His grace to overcome our sin and to live with greater integrity and love.