Daily Readings - Tue Sep 10 2019
Colossians
6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him,7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,10and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.11In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ,12having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Luke
12One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.13When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:14Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,15Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot,16Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.17He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon,18who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured,19and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
Sermon
In today's readings, we find powerful messages about living in Christ and experiencing His transformative power. The first reading from Colossians reminds us to be rooted in our faith, avoiding the deceptive philosophies of the world, and to find completeness in Christ. The second reading from Luke illustrates Jesus' ministry, where He chooses His apostles after a night of prayer and heals many, showcasing His divine authority and compassion.
The context of Colossians is a church facing heretical teachings, prompting Paul to emphasize Christ's sufficiency. In Luke, Jesus' prayerful selection of apostles and His healing miracles highlight His reliance on God and His mission to bring healing and hope. Both readings underscore the centrality of Christ: Colossians focuses on spiritual growth, while Luke demonstrates Christ's authority and the Church's foundation through the apostles.
Applying this to our lives, we are called to stay grounded in Christ, trusting in His power and living out our faith in our communities. The moral lesson is clear: a strong spiritual foundation in Christ and trust in His power are essential for navigating life's challenges. Let us seek to deepen our faith and share Christ's love in our daily lives.