Daily Readings - Mon Oct 21 2019
Romans
20Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.22This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."23The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone,24but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Luke
13Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."14Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?"15Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."16And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.17He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.19And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."'20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'21"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and the true source of security in our lives. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul highlights Abraham’s unwavering faith in God’s promise. Despite the challenges and uncertainties, Abraham trusted in God’s power and fidelity, and this faith was reckoned to him as righteousness. Paul emphasizes that this righteousness is not just for Abraham but also for us, if we believe in the God who raised Jesus from the dead. This passage reminds us that our faith is not about our own efforts but about trusting in God’s promises and His ability to fulfill them.
In the Gospel, Jesus warns us against the dangers of greed and materialism through the parable of the rich fool. The wealthy man in the story is so focused on accumulating possessions that he fails to recognize the true purpose of his life. Jesus calls him a fool because he trusts in his wealth rather than in God. The man’s tragic end serves as a cautionary tale: our lives are not measured by what we possess but by our relationship with God. This parable challenges us to examine our priorities and to recognize that true wealth lies in our spiritual lives, not in material abundance.
Both readings call us to trust in God’s providence and to live with a sense of detachment from worldly possessions. Abraham’s faith teaches us to rely on God’s promises even when the future seems uncertain. The parable of the rich fool reminds us that our ultimate security comes not from what we accumulate but from our relationship with God. Let us ask ourselves: Do we trust in God’s plan for our lives, or do we place our trust in the things of this world? May we strive to live with faith, generosity, and a heart open to God’s will, knowing that true wealth is found in Him alone.