Daily Readings - Sat Sep 23 2023

1 Timothy

13I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;14That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:15Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Luke

4And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:5A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.6And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.8And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.9And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?10And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.11Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.12Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.13They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.14And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.15But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Sermon

In today's readings, we are reminded of the profound importance of faith and the nurturing of God's word within us. The first reading from 1 Timothy emphasizes a charge to uphold the commandment and anticipate the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the King of kings. This passage underscores the significance of steadfast faith and the ultimate revelation of God's power. Similarly, the Gospel from Luke presents the parable of the sower, illustrating how the seed of God's word is received in different ways, symbolized by the various soils. This parable invites us to reflect on how we receive and nurture God's message in our lives. Both readings connect through their emphasis on preparation and receptivity. In 1 Timothy, the focus is on the expectation of Christ's return, urging us to remain faithful and unwavering. The parable in Luke's Gospel complements this by highlighting the importance of creating fertile ground in our hearts for God's word to take root. Just as the sower scatters seeds, God graciously offers His word to all, but the response varies. The good soil represents those who, with open and noble hearts, allow the word to flourish, bearing fruit through patience and perseverance. In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine our own receptivity to God's word. Are we like the rocky ground, where faith withers under trial, or the thorny soil, where worldly concerns choke the word? Or are we the good soil, where the word takes root and bears fruit? As we navigate life's challenges, may we strive to nurture our faith, trusting in God's power and grace. Let us cultivate patience and perseverance, allowing the word of God to transform us, so that we may bear fruit abundantly in our journey with Him.