Daily Readings - Sat Sep 07 2019
Colossians
21Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.22But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation--23if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Luke
1One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels.2Some of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?"3Jesus answered them, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?4He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions."5Then Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of reconciliation, freedom, and the true spirit of God's law. In the first reading from Colossians, St. Paul reminds us that through Christ's death, we have been reconciled to God, once enemies because of sin, but now made holy and blameless in His sight. This reconciliation calls us to remain steadfast in our faith, grounded in the hope of the Gospel. The second reading from Luke presents a scene where Jesus and His disciples are criticized by the Pharisees for picking grain on the Sabbath. Jesus defends their actions by recalling how David, in his hunger, ate the bread of the Presence, which was reserved for priests. Jesus then declares that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath, emphasizing that human needs and compassion should take precedence over rigid legalism.
These readings are connected by the theme of freedom in Christ. In Colossians, we are freed from sin and alienation through Christ's reconciling death. In Luke, Jesus frees us from a narrow understanding of the law, showing that God's commandments are meant to serve humanity, not the other way around. The Pharisees focused on the letter of the law, while Jesus highlighted its spirit, which is love and service to others. This tension reminds us that our faith must always be rooted in love and compassion, rather than empty observance.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine how we live out our faith. Are we like the Pharisees, focusing on rules and appearances, or do we allow the spirit of the law to guide us? Do we recognize the freedom and reconciliation we have in Christ, and do we live in a way that reflects this? Let us strive to be people of compassion and love, always seeking to serve others and honor God in the way we live. As Jesus teaches, the Sabbath—and indeed all of life—was made for humanity, not humanity for the Sabbath. May we live in the freedom and grace of God's love.