Daily Readings - Tue Oct 15 2019
Romans
16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.
Luke
37When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table.38But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised.39Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.40You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?41But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore themes of faith, hypocrisy, and inner purity. The First Reading from Romans emphasizes the power of the Gospel and the consequences of turning away from God. Paul highlights how humanity, despite knowing God, often rejects Him, leading to spiritual decay and worshiping creation over the Creator. This serves as a reminder of the universal need for salvation through faith.
The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus confronting a Pharisee's concern over outward rituals, such as washing before eating. Jesus points out the hypocrisy of focusing on appearances while neglecting inner righteousness. He teaches that true purity comes from within, suggesting that giving alms can cleanse the heart, emphasizing the importance of sincere actions over mere rituals.
These readings relate by contrasting outward appearances with inner faith. Romans warns against spiritual decay from rejecting God, while Luke's Jesus critiques hypocrisy, urging us to focus on inner purity. In daily life, this means prioritizing integrity and genuine faith over superficial displays. The moral lesson is clear: true faith is about the heart, not rituals. Let us strive to live with sincerity, ensuring our actions reflect our beliefs, and focus on nurturing our inner selves to achieve true purity.