Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 7, 2020
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 5.1-8
1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife.2And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?3Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.4When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present,5hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.6Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?7Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast--as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.8Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.
Psalm 5
1Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing.2Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.3In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.4You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell.5The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong.6You destroy those who tell lies; bloodthirsty and deceitful men the LORD abhors.7But I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down toward your holy temple.8Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies- make straight your way before me.9Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit.10Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you.11But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.12For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
Gospel: Luke 6.6-11
6On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled.7The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath.8But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Get up and stand in front of everyone." So he got up and stood there.9Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?"10He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He did so, and his hand was completely restored.11But they were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct yet interconnected lessons on morality and compassion. The first reading from 1 Corinthians addresses a grave moral issue within the early Christian community. Paul expresses concern over the community's tolerance of incest, urging them to expel the offender to preserve their spiritual integrity. He uses the metaphor of leaven to illustrate how sin can permeate the entire community if not addressed. Paul connects this to the Passover, emphasizing the need for sincerity and truthfulness in their lives.
The Gospel from Luke presents a scenario where Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, challenging the Pharisees' strict observance. Jesus questions their understanding of the Sabbath, asserting that it is lawful to do good and heal. This act of compassion angers the Pharisees, who then plot against him. This narrative highlights Jesus' teaching that compassion should guide our actions, even in the face of rigid rules.
Together, these readings teach us about balancing moral standards with compassion. They remind us to address sin within our communities with integrity, while also being guided by mercy. The moral lesson is that true righteousness involves both upholding moral principles and showing compassion. We should strive to create supportive communities that foster virtuous living through understanding and mercy.