Daily Readings - Tue Oct 25 2022
Ephesians
21Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.22Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.28So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.33Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Luke
18Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?19It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.20And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?21It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we hear two powerful reflections on growth, transformation, and the nature of God’s kingdom. The first reading from Ephesians emphasizes the sacred relationship between husbands and wives, calling them to live in mutual submission and love, mirroring the relationship between Christ and the Church. The passage reminds us that marriage is not just a human institution but a sacrament that reflects the love and sacrifice of Christ for his bride, the Church. Husbands are called to love their wives selflessly, just as Christ loves the Church, while wives are invited to embrace their role with reverence and respect. This passage challenges us to see marriage as a vocation, a way of living out the Gospel in our daily lives.
The Gospel from Luke offers two parables about the kingdom of God: the mustard seed and the leaven. These images remind us that God’s kingdom often begins small and unnoticed but grows into something extraordinary. The mustard seed, though tiny, becomes a great tree that shelters all who come to it. Similarly, the leaven, though hidden in dough, transforms the entire batch. These parables teach us about the quiet, transformative power of God’s work in the world. Just as the mustard seed and leaven bring life and nourishment, our faith, though it may seem small or insignificant, has the power to transform our lives and the lives of others.
Both readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our faith in our relationships and in the world. The Ephesians passage calls us to live with humility, love, and mutual respect, recognizing that our relationships are a reflection of God’s love. The parables in Luke remind us to trust in God’s power to grow and transform, even when we feel small or inadequate. Let us ask ourselves: Are we allowing God’s love to transform our relationships? Are we trusting in the quiet, hidden ways God is working in our lives and in the world? May we embrace the humility and trust that allows God’s kingdom to flourish in us and through us.