Daily Readings - Sat Oct 26 2019
Romans
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
Luke
1Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.2Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?3I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.4Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them--do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?5I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."6Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any.7So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'8"'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it.9If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'"
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the transformative power of God’s grace and the call to repentance. The first reading from Romans reminds us that through Christ, we are freed from the law of sin and death, and we are called to live according to the Spirit. This passage emphasizes that our new life in Christ is not about condemnation but about the liberation and peace that come from living in harmony with God’s will. The context of this passage is St. Paul’s larger discussion about the relationship between the law and the Spirit, reassuring believers that their life in Christ is one of freedom and hope.
The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus teaching about repentance and God’s patience. In response to tragic events, Jesus warns against assuming that suffering is a direct result of sin. Instead, He uses these moments to call all people to repentance, emphasizing that none of us are immune to the need for conversion. The parable of the fig tree reinforces this message, showing that God gives us time and grace to bear fruit, but we must respond with effort and faith. This parable is a powerful reminder that our lives are not static; we are always given the opportunity to grow and change with God’s help.
These readings are deeply connected, as both emphasize the opportunity for transformation and the responsibility that comes with it. In Romans, we see the inner transformation wrought by the Spirit, while in Luke, we are called to outward signs of repentance and fruitful living. Together, they remind us that our relationship with God is one of ongoing conversion and growth. In our daily lives, this means examining our hearts and actions, seeking to live more deeply in the Spirit, and being open to the grace that allows us to bear fruit. The moral lesson here is one of hope and responsibility: God’s grace is abundant, but we must cooperate with it, trusting in His patience while striving to live as fruitful disciples. Let us embrace this call to conversion and growth, knowing that the Spirit of God is always at work within us, leading us to eternal life.