Daily Readings - Sat Oct 24 2020
Ephesians
7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.8This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."9(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
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 hear about the call to grow in faith and unity as followers of Christ. The first reading from Ephesians reminds us that each of us has been given gifts by God, and these gifts are not for our own benefit but for the building up of the body of Christ. The passage emphasizes the importance of unity and maturity in the faith, warning us against being swayed by false teachings and encouraging us to live in love and truth, growing together in Christ. The Gospel from Luke, on the other hand, presents a parable about a fig tree that fails to bear fruit, along with a stern warning about the necessity of repentance. Jesus uses these examples to remind us that our lives must bear fruit in accordance with God’s will, and if we do not repent and turn to Him, we risk spiritual death.
The readings are connected by the theme of spiritual growth and accountability. In Ephesians, we are called to use our gifts to edify the Church and to mature in our faith, while in Luke, we are reminded that our lives must produce fruit worthy of repentance. The fig tree in the parable is given another chance, symbolizing God’s mercy and patience, but it also serves as a warning that we cannot indefinitely delay turning to Him. Together, these readings challenge us to examine our lives and ensure that we are living in a way that reflects our commitment to Christ.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Am I using the gifts God has given me to build up others and grow in holiness? Am I bearing fruit in my life through acts of love, compassion, and fidelity to God’s will? The call to repentance is not about fear but about returning to the Lord with humility and openness to His grace. Let us pray for the strength to live in truth and love, and for the wisdom to use the time God gives us to grow in holiness. May we, like the fig tree, respond to God’s mercy with fruitful lives that glorify Him.