Daily Readings - Sat Sep 12 2020
1 Corinthians
14Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.15I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.16Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?17Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.18Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?19Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?20No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons.22Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
Luke
43"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.44Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.45The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.46"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?47I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice.48He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.49But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
Sermon
In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the authenticity of our faith and the integrity of our actions. The first reading from 1 Corinthians reminds us of the sacred nature of the Eucharist, urging us to avoid idolatry and instead commune deeply with Christ. The Gospel from Luke uses the metaphor of trees and their fruit to illustrate that our actions reveal the true state of our hearts, emphasizing the importance of living according to Jesus' teachings.
The context of these readings is rooted in early Christian communities grappling with issues of faith and practice. In Corinth, Paul addresses a community dealing with idolatry and the meaning of the Eucharist, calling for a deeper understanding of communion with Christ. Luke's Gospel presents Jesus teaching on the necessity of integrity, where true faith is demonstrated through actions, not just words, using the parable of the builder to stress the importance of a strong spiritual foundation.
Together, these readings call us to examine our commitments and ensure our actions reflect our faith. They remind us that superficial participation in worship or daily life can lead to hypocrisy and weakness. Instead, we are urged to build our lives on the rock of Jesus' teachings, ensuring that our words and deeds align, leading to a life of integrity and spiritual strength. This is the essence of an authentic Christian life—one that transforms and sustains us through life's challenges.