Daily Readings - Fri Oct 27 2023
Romans
18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.21I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.24O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Luke
54And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.55And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.56Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?57Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?58When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.59I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the human condition and our relationship with God. In the first reading from Romans, Paul describes the internal struggle we all face between good and evil. He admits that even though he wants to do what is right, he often finds himself doing the opposite. This tension within him reveals the deeper truth of our fallen nature: sin dwells within us, and we are powerless to overcome it on our own. Paul’s cry, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” is a universal human lament, acknowledging our need for salvation.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges us to discern the signs of the times and to judge what is just. He criticizes the hypocrisy of those who can read the weather but fail to recognize the spiritual realities around them. Jesus then tells a parable about being prepared to settle disputes before they escalate, warning that if we do not resolve our conflicts here and now, we risk being trapped in a spiritual prison from which we cannot escape. This teaching calls us to be vigilant and proactive in our spiritual lives, to seek reconciliation, and to live with integrity.
Together, these readings remind us that the struggle between good and evil is real, but it is not a battle we can win by ourselves. Paul’s honesty about his own weakness points us to the grace of God, which alone can free us from the power of sin. Jesus’ call to discernment and justice invites us to live with awareness and responsibility, seeking to align our lives with God’s will. Let us ask for the grace to recognize our own struggles, to turn to God for help, and to live in a way that reflects the justice and mercy of Christ.