Daily Readings - Thu Oct 17 2024

¹Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:²Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:⁴According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:⁵Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,⁶To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.⁷In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;⁸Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;⁹Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:¹⁰That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Luke

Chapter 11

⁴⁷Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.⁴⁸Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.⁴⁹Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:⁵⁰That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;⁵¹From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.⁵²Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.⁵³And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:⁵⁴Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter profound reflections on God's grace and human response. The first reading from Ephesians reminds us of the abundant blessings we receive from God, predestined for adoption as His children through Jesus Christ. This letter, written to early Christians, emphasizes the richness of God's grace and the unity believers share in Christ. The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus condemning the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, highlighting their failure to recognize the prophets and their role in persecution. This passage underscores the spiritual blindness that can lead to rejecting God's messengers. Both readings connect through the theme of God's plan and human response. Ephesians celebrates being chosen and blessed, while Luke warns of the consequences of rejecting divine truths. Together, they remind us that grace calls for a responsive heart, open to God's will. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to recognize our blessings and remain humble. We must avoid spiritual blindness by living with gratitude and openness to God's grace. The moral lesson here is the importance of embracing our role in God's plan with humility and openness, ensuring we do not hinder others from experiencing His love. Let us strive to live in harmony with God's will, allowing His grace to guide us in unity and love.