Daily Readings - Sat Oct 14 2023
Joel
12Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.13Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.15The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.16The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.17So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.18And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.19Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.20But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.21For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about God's judgment, restoration, and the path to true blessedness. The First Reading from Joel paints a vivid picture of the Day of the Lord, a time of reckoning where nations are judged in the valley of Jehoshaphat. Joel's prophecy is both a warning and a promise—while there is desolation for the unrepentant, there is also restoration for Judah, with imagery of abundance and a fountain from the Lord's house bringing life to the desert. This passage reminds us that God's justice is not just punitive but also restorative, offering hope to those who remain faithful.
The Gospel from Luke shifts our focus to the living out of God's word. When a woman praises Jesus' mother, He responds by emphasizing that true blessedness comes not from physical connection but from hearing and keeping God's word. This teaching underscores the importance of obedience and faithfulness in our daily lives. Jesus is not diminishing the value of Mary's role but highlighting that spiritual blessedness surpasses physical ties. This message aligns with Joel's themes of judgment and restoration, as both readings call us to align our lives with God's will.
As we reflect on these readings, we are invited to examine our own lives. Are we living according to God's word, preparing for His judgment, and trusting in His plan? The moral lesson here is clear: true blessedness is found in a life of faith and obedience. Let us strive to keep God's word close to our hearts, knowing that this path leads to restoration and eternal life. In doing so, we embody the hope and justice that Joel prophesied and the spiritual blessedness that Jesus taught.