Daily Readings - Wed Sep 05 2018
1 Corinthians
1Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly--mere infants in Christ.2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.3You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?4For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men?5What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe--as the Lord has assigned to each his task.6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.8The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.9For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
Luke
38Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her.39So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.40When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.41Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.42At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them.43But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."44And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from 1 Corinthians reminds us of our spiritual immaturity and the tendency to divide ourselves by earthly leaders. Paul urges us to look beyond human efforts and recognize that true growth comes from God. He emphasizes unity and collaboration, noting that while we may plant or water, it is God who nurtures the growth.
The Gospel from Luke illustrates Jesus' compassionate ministry, healing the sick and casting out demons. Despite the recognition of His divine authority, Jesus remains focused on His mission to preach the kingdom of God. This teaches us about the importance of staying true to our calling and trusting in God's plan, even when faced with distractions or accolades.
Together, these readings call us to embrace unity and trust in God's work. In our daily lives, this means avoiding divisions, trusting that God is actively at work, and staying committed to our mission. Let us reflect on our own tendencies to divide or seek recognition, and instead, focus on our shared purpose and God's grace. May we, like Jesus, remain steadfast in our calling and trust in the divine growth that only God can provide.