Daily Readings - Fri Sep 04 2020

1 Corinthians

1So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.2Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.3I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.4My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

Luke

33They said to him, "John's disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking."34Jesus answered, "Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?35But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast."36He told them this parable: "No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old.37And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.38No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.39And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is better.'"

Sermon

In today's readings, we are reminded of the importance of humility and trust in God's plan. The first reading from 1 Corinthians encourages us to see ourselves as ministers of Christ, faithful stewards of God's mysteries. Paul emphasizes that our judgment is not in human hands but in God's, urging us to avoid premature judgments and trust in His timing. This teaches us to focus on our own faithfulness and leave the rest to God. The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus addressing critics who question His disciples' practices. Using parables of the groom, patching garments, and wineskins, Jesus illustrates that His ministry brings new life and vitality, which cannot be confined by old traditions. This calls us to embrace the newness Christ brings, being open to change and growth in our spiritual lives. Together, these readings remind us to live with humility, trusting in God's judgment and being receptive to the new ways He works in our lives. Let us focus on our own walk with God, avoiding judgment of others, and remain open to the fresh insights and transformations He brings.