Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 20, 2023
First Reading: 1 Timothy 3.14-16
14These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:15But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Psalm 111
1Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.2The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.3His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.4He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.5He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.6He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.7The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.8They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.9He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Gospel: Luke 7.31-35
31And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?32They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.33For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.34The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!35But wisdom is justified of all her children.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of God's wisdom and our response to it. In the first reading from 1 Timothy, we hear about the Church as the "pillar and foundation of truth," emphasizing its role in upholding and proclaiming the mystery of God's plan revealed in Christ. This mystery, which transcends human understanding, is both a gift and a responsibility for believers. The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus critiquing the inconsistent expectations of His contemporaries, who judged John the Baptist for his austerity and Jesus for His openness, yet failed to recognize the wisdom of God at work in both. Jesus' words remind us that God's truth cannot be confined to human categories or expectations.
These readings are connected by the theme of wisdom and how it is received. The Church, as described in 1 Timothy, is the dwelling place of God's truth, where the mystery of Christ is made known. Yet, as Luke's Gospel shows, this truth is often met with resistance or misunderstanding. Jesus' critique highlights the danger of judging God's messengers based on preconceived notions rather than openness to the Spirit. Together, the readings call us to humility and discernment, recognizing that God's wisdom may come in unexpected forms.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to embrace the mystery of faith with openness and gratitude. Like the Church, we are called to be pillars of truth, yet we must also avoid the temptation to judge others based on appearances or expectations. Jesus' words remind us that wisdom is not about fitting into human categories but about living in harmony with God's plan. Let us strive to be children of wisdom, receptive to the ways God speaks to us, even when it challenges our comfortable assumptions. In doing so, we become living testimonies to the truth that sets us free.