Daily Readings - Thu Sep 01 2022
1 Corinthians
18Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.20And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.21Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;22Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;23And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
Luke
1And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,2And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.3And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.5And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.6And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.7And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.9For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:10And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.11And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of the profound truth that God's wisdom transcends human understanding. The First Reading from 1 Corinthians warns us against the deception of worldly wisdom, urging us to embrace a humility that recognizes the limits of human knowledge. The Gospel from Luke illustrates this through the miraculous catch of fish, where Simon Peter's trust in Jesus leads to an abundance beyond expectation. This event marks the beginning of Peter's discipleship, highlighting the transformative power of faith.
Both readings emphasize the importance of trusting in God's plan rather than our own understanding. In Corinthians, Paul cautions against divisions and pride, encouraging unity through recognition of God's gifts. In Luke, Jesus demonstrates His divine authority, calling the fishermen to follow Him into the unknown. These narratives connect by showing that true wisdom lies in surrendering to God's will, even when it challenges our perceptions.
In our daily lives, we are called to embrace this humility and faith. When faced with uncertainty or failure, we should trust in God's providence, just as Peter trusted Jesus. Let us not rely solely on our own wisdom but seek God's guidance, allowing Him to lead us to unexpected blessings. The moral lesson here is one of humility and trust, reminding us that God's wisdom, though beyond our comprehension, is always for our good.