Daily Readings - Wed Nov 06 2024
Philippians
12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.14Do all things without murmurings and disputings:15That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;16Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.17Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.18For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
Luke
25And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,26If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.28For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?29Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,30Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.31Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?32Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.33So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Sermon
Dear friends in Christ,
Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the nature of our commitment to faith and the transformative power of living as disciples of Christ. In the first reading from Philippians, St. Paul encourages the community to "work out their salvation with fear and trembling," reminding them that while God works within them, they must still act with integrity and without complaint. This passage emphasizes the balance between God’s grace and our responsibility to live out our faith diligently. The Philippians are urged to be "lights in the world," reflecting God’s truth in a society that often opposes it. This call to holiness and witness is both a privilege and a challenge.
In the Gospel, Jesus presents a stark and unsettling message about the cost of discipleship. He declares that to follow him, one must be willing to "hate" family and even life itself. This is not about literal hatred but about prioritizing our relationship with him above all else. Jesus uses parables about building a tower and a king preparing for war to stress the need for discernment and commitment. True discipleship requires sacrifice and a willingness to renounce all that might hinder our devotion to him. These words are not meant to discourage but to clarify the seriousness of following Christ.
Both readings remind us that faith is not a passive endeavor but an active, intentional way of life. Paul’s exhortation to live blamelessly and Jesus’ call to radical discipleship are two sides of the same coin. They challenge us to examine our priorities, to count the cost, and to live in a way that reflects our identity as children of God. In a world often marked by compromise and complacency, these readings invite us to shine as lights, to bear our crosses, and to trust in God’s grace to sustain us. Let us ask ourselves: Are we living as true disciples, or are we holding back? May we embrace the call to holiness and witness, trusting that the Lord will complete the work he has begun in us.