Daily Readings - Fri Sep 16 2022
1 Corinthians
12Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?13But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:14And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.15Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.16For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.18Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Luke
1And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,2And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,3And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on faith, hope, and the resurrection. The first reading from 1 Corinthians 15 emphasizes the centrality of the resurrection in our Christian faith. St. Paul reminds us that if Christ has not risen, then our preaching and faith are in vain. He underscores that the resurrection is not just a distant hope but the very foundation of our belief. Without it, the entire edifice of Christianity crumbles. The Gospel from Luke 8, on the other hand, presents us with a vivid image of Jesus’ ministry, accompanied by the Twelve Apostles and several women who were healed and supported Him. This passage highlights the communal nature of discipleship and the diverse group of individuals who followed Jesus, each contributing to His mission in their own way.
The connection between these readings lies in their emphasis on the transformative power of faith and the importance of living out that faith in community. In Corinthians, Paul’s focus on the resurrection is a call to trust in God’s power to overcome even death itself. In Luke, we see this faith in action through the lives of those who followed Jesus, including the women who were healed and now ministered to Him. Their stories remind us that faith is not just a belief but a way of life that shapes how we love, serve, and support one another.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How does the hope of the resurrection shape our daily lives? Do we live with the confidence that Christ’s victory over death gives us the strength to face life’s challenges? Let us also consider how we, like the women in Luke’s Gospel, can use our unique gifts and experiences to support one another in living out the Gospel. May we remember that our faith is not in vain, for Christ has indeed risen, and His resurrection is the first fruits of our own. Let us strive to live as people of hope, trusting in God’s plan and working together to build a community rooted in love and faith.