Daily Readings - Sun Sep 15 2019

⁷Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt.⁸They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.'⁹"I have seen these people," the LORD said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people.¹⁰Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."¹¹But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. "O LORD," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?¹³Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.'"¹⁴Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

1 Timothy

Chapter 1

¹²I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.¹³Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.¹⁴The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.¹⁵Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.¹⁶But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.¹⁷Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Luke

Chapter 15

¹Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him.²But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."³Then Jesus told them this parable:⁴"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?⁵And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders⁶and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'⁷I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.⁸"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?⁹And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.'¹⁰In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Sermon

The readings today remind us of God’s boundless mercy and love for sinners, as well as his desire to seek out those who have wandered away from him. In the first reading from Exodus, Moses intercedes for the Israelites after they turn to idolatry by worshiping the golden calf. Despite their sin, God’s anger is calmed by Moses’ prayer, showing that even in our failures, God’s mercy triumphs. The second reading from 1 Timothy highlights Paul’s personal testimony of receiving God’s mercy despite his past as a persecutor of Christians. He humbly acknowledges that he was once a sinner but was transformed by God’s grace, emphasizing that Christ came to save sinners. The Gospel from Luke uses two parables—the lost sheep and the lost coin—to illustrate God’s joy in seeking and finding those who are lost. These parables challenge us to reflect on our own relationship with God and to see ourselves as both sinners in need of mercy and as agents of God’s love in the world. These readings are deeply connected by the theme of divine mercy and the call to repentance. The Exodus story shows God’s willingness to forgive his people even when they fail, while Paul’s testimony in 1 Timothy reminds us that none of us are beyond the reach of God’s grace. The parables in Luke’s Gospel extend this idea, teaching us that God actively seeks out the lost and rejoices when they return to him. Together, these readings invite us to reflect on our own sinfulness and to trust in God’s love, which is always ready to welcome us back. They also remind us that we are called to imitate God’s mercy by seeking out and loving those who feel lost or marginalized. In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to approach God with humility and openness, acknowledging our sins and trusting in his forgiveness. They also call us to be instruments of God’s mercy in the lives of others—whether through a kind word, a listening ear, or a willingness to forgive. Let us remember that we are all sinners in need of God’s grace, and that the greatest joy is not in being righteous but in repenting and returning to the Father’s love. May we, like Moses and Paul, intercede for others and share in the joy of God’s mercy, knowing that we are all part of his flock, his treasure, and his beloved children.