Daily Readings - Sat Sep 09 2023
Colossians
21And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:23If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Luke
1And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.2And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?3And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;4How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?5And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful themes of reconciliation and freedom through faith. The first reading from Colossians reminds us that through Christ's sacrifice, we are reconciled to God, becoming holy and blameless. This reconciliation calls us to a steadfast faith, rooted in the hope of the Gospel. The second reading from Luke presents Jesus challenging the Pharisees' strict interpretation of the Sabbath, emphasizing that human needs and compassion should not be overshadowed by rigid rules.
Both readings highlight the freedom Christ brings. Colossians focuses on freedom from sin and alienation, urging us to remain faithful. Luke illustrates freedom from legalism, showing that faith should be lived with compassion. Jesus's authority over the Sabbath underscores that our actions should be guided by love and mercy rather than just rules.
Applying this to our lives, we are called to balance faith with practical acts of kindness. Our steadfastness in faith should lead us to serve others with love, prioritizing compassion over strict adherence to rules. The moral lesson is clear: our faith should inspire us to live with love and understanding, reflecting the reconciliation and freedom we have in Christ. Let us embrace this freedom, living out our faith with hearts full of love and service.