Daily Readings - Tue Oct 31 2017
Romans
18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.19The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope21that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Luke
18Then Jesus asked, "What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to?19It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches."20Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to?21It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the nature of hope and the growth of God’s kingdom in our lives. The first reading from Romans reminds us that our present sufferings, though real, are nothing compared to the future glory that awaits us. Paul writes about the whole creation groaning in anticipation of being set free from corruption, and he encourages us to wait patiently for the full revelation of God’s sons and daughters. This passage is set in the context of Paul’s broader discussion of the Spirit and the hope of glory, reassuring believers that their struggles are not in vain.
The Gospel reading from Luke offers two parables that illustrate how the kingdom of God grows in unexpected and often unseen ways. The mustard seed, though small, grows into a great tree, and the leaven, though hidden, transforms the entire batch of dough. These images remind us that God’s work often begins in humble and unassuming ways, but it leads to profound transformation. Jesus uses these parables to teach his disciples about the nature of the kingdom, emphasizing that growth and change are gradual but inevitable when we cooperate with God’s grace.
Together, these readings encourage us to trust in God’s plan and to have hope, even when we cannot see the fullness of what he is doing. Just as the mustard seed grows into a tree and the leaven transforms the dough, our small acts of faith and perseverance can lead to great things. Let us embrace the hope that Paul speaks of, knowing that our struggles are temporary, and let us nurture the seed of God’s kingdom in our hearts, trusting that it will bear fruit in due time.