Daily Readings - Tue Oct 24 2023
Romans
12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:13For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)18Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:21That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Luke
35Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;36And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.37Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.38And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the profound connection between sin, grace, and our ultimate union with God. The first reading from Romans 5:12-21 explores the origin of sin and death through Adam, contrasting it with the abundant grace and life offered through Jesus Christ. Paul emphasizes that just as sin entered the world through one man, so too did redemption come through one man, Jesus. The reading highlights the superabundance of God’s grace, which far exceeds the consequences of sin. This passage invites us to reflect on the universal impact of sin and the even greater gift of salvation made available to all through Christ.
The Gospel from Luke 12:35-38 shifts our focus to the call to vigilance and readiness. Jesus uses the parable of servants awaiting their master’s return to emphasize the importance of being prepared for His coming. The servants who are found watchful and faithful are blessed, as the master will serve them in a reversal of roles. This passage reminds us that our lives should be lived with an awareness of God’s presence and a readiness to meet Him at any moment. It encourages us to live with purpose, integrity, and a constant mindfulness of our ultimate goal: eternal life with God.
Together, these readings call us to live in the tension between the reality of sin and the hope of redemption. While sin and death entered the world through Adam, Christ’s obedience and grace have opened the way to justification and eternal life. The Gospel’s call to vigilance reminds us that our response to this grace should be a life of faithfulness and readiness. In our daily lives, this means embracing the gift of salvation with gratitude, living with integrity, and staying attentive to God’s presence. Let us trust in the superabundance of God’s grace and strive to live as children of light, ever-prepared to meet the Lord who comes to us in unexpected ways.