Daily Readings - Thu Oct 26 2023
Romans
19I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.20For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.21What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.22But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Luke
49I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?50But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!51Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:52For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.53The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the transformative power of faith and the challenges it presents. In Romans, Paul contrasts life as servants of sin with life as servants of God, emphasizing that our choices lead to either death or eternal life. This transformation is not merely a change in behavior but a profound shift in our being, leading to sanctification.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of casting fire upon the earth, a metaphor for the transformative and sometimes divisive nature of His message. This fire ignites a passion that can create conflict, even within families, as not everyone will embrace the radical commitment He calls for. This teaching reminds us that following Christ is not about comfort but about a radical way of life that can set us apart.
Applying this to our daily lives, we are called to make choices that align with our faith, even when they are difficult. This might mean facing opposition or standing out in our commitment to justice and love. The moral lesson here is clear: our faith transforms us internally and challenges us externally, leading to a life of purpose and eternal promise. Let us embrace this transformative power, knowing that it brings both inner sanctification and the courage to face life's challenges.