Daily Readings - Tue Oct 17 2017

¹⁶I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.¹⁷For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."¹⁸The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,¹⁹since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.²⁰For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.²¹For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.²²Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools²³and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.²⁴Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.²⁵They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.

Luke

Chapter 11

³⁷When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table.³⁸But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised.³⁹Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.⁴⁰You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?⁴¹But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on the nature of faith, integrity, and the human condition. The first reading from Romans reminds us that the Gospel is the power of God for salvation, yet it also warns us about the consequences of turning away from God. Paul describes how humanity, despite knowing God, has often chosen to exchange the truth for lies, worshipping creation rather than the Creator. This passage calls us to reflect on our own relationship with God and whether we, too, have allowed our hearts to grow darkened by sin or pride. The Gospel from Luke offers a complementary message. Jesus is criticized by a Pharisee for not washing before eating, but he turns the tables by pointing out the Pharisee’s own hypocrisy. While they focus on outward cleanliness, their inner lives are filled with greed and wickedness. Jesus’ words are a stark reminder that true purity comes not from external rituals but from a heart transformed by love and humility. This teaching challenges us to examine our own lives: are we more concerned with appearances, or are we striving to live with integrity and authenticity? Both readings invite us to look inward. Paul warns us against the spiritual decay that comes from rejecting God’s truth, while Jesus calls us to recognize the emptiness of outward piety without inner conversion. In our daily lives, we are often tempted to present a polished exterior while neglecting the state of our souls. Let us ask ourselves: Are we living as true followers of Christ, or are we merely going through the motions? May we turn to God with honest hearts, seeking to be cleansed from within, so that our lives may truly reflect the justice and love of God.