Daily Readings - Mon Sep 09 2019
Colossians
24Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.25I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness--26the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.28We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.29To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
1I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.2My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Luke
6On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled.7The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath.8But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Get up and stand in front of everyone." So he got up and stood there.9Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?"10He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He did so, and his hand was completely restored.11But they were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on the mission of spreading God's word and the transformative power of love. The first reading from Colossians reveals St. Paul's deep commitment to his ministry, despite his sufferings. He sees his trials as a way to "complete what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ," not because Christ's sacrifice was insufficient, but because Paul's own life becomes an offering for the Church. He emphasizes that the mystery of God, once hidden, is now revealed through Christ, and he is called to announce this truth to all people, teaching and correcting them in wisdom so that they may be "perfect in Christ." Paul's passion for the Gospel shines through, even as he acknowledges the challenges of his mission.
The Gospel from Luke presents a vivid contrast between Jesus' compassion and the Pharisees' rigid adherence to the law. On the Sabbath, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand, despite knowing that the Pharisees are watching for any excuse to accuse him. His question to them—"Is it lawful to do good or evil on the Sabbath? To save a life or to destroy it?"—exposes the hypocrisy of their legalism. By healing the man, Jesus demonstrates that love and mercy must always take precedence over human rules. The Pharisees' anger reveals the hardness of their hearts, but Jesus' actions reveal the heart of God.
These readings remind us that our faith is not about following rules for their own sake but about living in love and service to others. Like Paul, we are called to embrace our own challenges as opportunities to grow in holiness and to share the Gospel with others. Like Jesus, we are called to act with compassion, even when it means going against the expectations of others. Let us reflect on how we can live more fully in this spirit of love and mission, allowing Christ to transform our hearts and our actions.