Daily Readings - Wed Aug 31 2022
1 Corinthians
1And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?5Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?6I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.7So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.8Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.9For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
Luke
38And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.39And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.40Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.41And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.42And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.43And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.44And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful lessons about humility, service, and the nature of God’s work in the world. The first reading from 1 Corinthians reminds us that we are all spiritual infants, still in need of growth and guidance. Paul humbly acknowledges that he and other ministers are merely servants of God, planting and watering the seeds of faith, but it is God alone who gives the growth. This passage challenges us to recognize our limitations and to trust in God’s providence, rather than relying on our own strength or divisions. The second reading from Luke’s Gospel shows Jesus as the ultimate servant, healing the sick and casting out demons, yet always remaining focused on His mission to preach the Kingdom of God. Despite the crowds’ desire to keep Him close, Jesus knows His work is far from over, and He moves on to fulfill His calling.
The readings are deeply connected in their emphasis on God’s initiative and our role as cooperators in His plan. Just as Paul and Apollos are merely instruments of God’s grace, Jesus’ miracles and teachings are not for His own glory but to reveal the Father’s love. Both readings remind us that our efforts, no matter how noble, are only fruitful when they are aligned with God’s will. This is a call to humility and trust, encouraging us to let go of envy, contention, and the desire for human recognition.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we serve others and how we understand our role in the world. Are we like the Corinthians, divided by pride and self-interest, or are we like Jesus, who emptied Himself to serve and preach the Kingdom? Let us ask for the grace to be humble servants, trusting in God’s power to bring fruit to our efforts. May we, like Jesus, remain focused on our mission to love and serve, knowing that the true work is God’s, and we are merely His instruments.