Daily Readings - Tue Sep 26 2017
2 Corinthians
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.13It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak,14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Luke
23Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.25What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?26If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the paradox of the Christian life: that true strength lies in weakness, and true life is found in self-surrender. In the second reading from 2 Corinthians, St. Paul speaks of the treasure of the Gospel being carried in "earthen vessels," fragile and imperfect as we are. He reminds us that our struggles and sufferings are not obstacles to God’s work but opportunities for His power to shine through us. This is the heart of the Christian mystery: in our vulnerability, God’s strength is revealed.
In the Gospel, Jesus takes this idea a step further. He calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him. This is not a call to self-punishment but an invitation to reorient our lives. Jesus warns that trying to save our lives on our own terms leads to loss, while losing our lives for His sake leads to true salvation. The cross is not just a symbol of suffering but a way of life—a life of love, sacrifice, and trust in God’s plan.
These readings remind us that our faith is not about avoiding challenges but about embracing them with courage and hope. In our daily lives, we are called to carry our own crosses—whether it’s a difficult relationship, a personal struggle, or a sacrifice for the sake of others. Like St. Paul, we can find joy in knowing that our weaknesses are opportunities for God to work through us. And like Jesus, we can trust that even in the midst of suffering, we are being drawn closer to eternal life. Let us, therefore, embrace the paradox of the Christian life, knowing that in surrendering ourselves to God, we find true freedom and fulfillment.