Daily Readings - Tue Sep 06 2022

¹Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?²Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?³Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?⁴If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.⁵I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?⁶But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.⁷Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?⁸Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.⁹Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,¹⁰Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.¹¹And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Luke

Chapter 6

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

In today's readings, we encounter two profound themes that guide us in our faith journey. The first reading from 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 addresses the importance of resolving disputes within the Christian community, urging believers to seek judgment from the saints rather than secular courts. Paul reminds the Corinthians that their new identity in Christ calls them to live a life of holiness, free from the sins of the past. The Gospel from Luke 6:12-19 presents Jesus prayerfully selecting His twelve apostles, embodying His mission to form a community of disciples. He then heals the multitude, demonstrating His divine power and compassion. Both readings emphasize the significance of community and living according to God's will. In Corinthians, Paul challenges the church to handle conflicts with love and wisdom, reflecting their identity as children of God. In Luke, Jesus' selection of the apostles and His healing ministry illustrate the heart of His mission: forming a community that serves and heals. These passages remind us that our faith is not individualistic but communal, requiring us to live in harmony and service to others. Applying these teachings to our daily lives, we are called to approach disputes with grace and seek resolution within our faith community. We should strive to be like Jesus, reaching out with compassion and healing to those around us. The moral reflection here is clear: our identity in Christ compels us to live as children of light, reflecting His holiness and love in all we do. May we embrace this call, living as a community that heals and serves, just as Jesus did.