Daily Readings - Thu Oct 28 2021
Ephesians
19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Luke
12And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.13And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;14Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,15Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,16And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.17And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;18And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.19And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on our identity as followers of Christ and our role in the mission of God. In the first reading from Ephesians, we hear that we are no longer strangers or sojourners but are now citizens in the household of God. We are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone. This passage emphasizes that we are part of a living temple, a spiritual structure where each of us has a place and a purpose. It reminds us that our faith is not just an individual relationship but a communal one, rooted in the traditions and teachings of the Church.
The Gospel from Luke complements this by showing us how Jesus, in prayer, chose the Twelve Apostles to be the foundation of this new community. Jesus spent the night in prayer before selecting those who would carry on his mission. This highlights the importance of prayer in discerning God’s will and the significance of community in living out our faith. The crowd that gathered around Jesus, seeking healing and touch, shows us that the Church is not just for the few but for all people, and we are called to be instruments of healing and grace in the world.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How am I living out my role as a member of God’s household? Am I rooted in prayer and open to God’s call? Am I reaching out to others, offering them the healing and love that Christ has shown me? Let us strive to be living stones in the temple of God, building up the Body of Christ and sharing his love with the world.