Daily Readings - Sat Sep 23 2017
1 Timothy
13In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you14to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,15which God will bring about in his own time--God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,16who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
Luke
4While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable:5"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up.6Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."9His disciples asked him what this parable meant.10He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, "'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.'11"This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.12Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.13Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.14The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.15But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the enduring power of God’s word and the call to fidelity. The first reading from 1 Timothy encourages Timothy to remain faithful, observing the commandment until Christ’s return. This passage underscores the importance of perseverance and trust in God’s plan. The Gospel from Luke presents the parable of the sower, where Jesus teaches about the different ways people receive God’s word. This parable invites us to reflect on how we ourselves receive and nurture God’s message in our lives.
Both readings, though distinct, share a common theme of receptivity and endurance. In 1 Timothy, the focus is on steadfastness in faith, while Luke’s parable highlights the varying responses to God’s word. The parable serves as a mirror, prompting us to examine our own hearts and how we allow God’s word to take root. The challenge is to be like the good soil—open, receptive, and nurturing—so that God’s word can bear fruit in our lives.
In our daily lives, this means cultivating patience and faithfulness. Just as the seed needs time and care to grow, our spiritual lives require consistent effort and openness to God’s grace. The moral lesson here is clear: perseverance and receptivity are essential for spiritual growth. May we strive to be the good soil, allowing God’s word to transform us, even amidst life’s challenges, and may we bear fruit in patience and love.