Daily Readings - Tue Sep 12 2023
Colossians
6As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:7Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.10And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:11In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:12Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Luke
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 are reminded of the profound truths of our faith and the transformative power of Christ in our lives. The first reading from Colossians urges us to live deeply rooted in Christ, avoiding the deceptive influences of the world. It emphasizes that in Christ, we are complete and have triumphed over all spiritual powers through His sacrifice on the cross. The second reading from Luke describes Jesus choosing the twelve apostles after a night of prayer and then healing many, showcasing His divine power and compassion.
Both readings highlight the centrality of Christ. While Colossians focuses on the spiritual reality of being in Christ, Luke illustrates the practical manifestation of His power and mission through the apostles and healing. This connection invites us to trust in Christ's power and to live as His disciples, grounded in faith amidst life's challenges.
As we reflect on these readings, we are called to be instruments of Christ's grace and healing in the world. Let us remain rooted in faith, trusting in His power to guide and transform us. May we, like the apostles, embrace our mission to share His love and be His hands and feet in the world, bringing light and hope to all we encounter.