Daily Readings - Tue Aug 31 2021
1 Thessalonians
1Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you,2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.3While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.4But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.5You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Luke
31Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people.32They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority.33In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice,34"Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"35"Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.36All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!"37And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of God’s authority and our call to live as children of light. In the first reading from 1 Thessalonians, St. Paul reminds us that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. He urges us to stay vigilant and sober, not living in darkness but as sons and daughters of light. This passage emphasizes the importance of being prepared for the Lord’s return, not out of fear, but out of trust in God’s plan and our union with Christ. The second reading transitions seamlessly into the Gospel, where we see Jesus exercising His divine authority by casting out an unclean spirit. The people are astonished not only by His teaching but by the power with which He commands the demons to depart. This scene underscores the reality of spiritual warfare and the triumph of God’s power over evil.
These readings are deeply connected. Both remind us that our lives are not governed by chance or darkness but by the light of Christ. In 1 Thessalonians, Paul calls us to live with purpose and hope, knowing that God has not destined us for wrath but for salvation. In the Gospel, Jesus demonstrates His authority over the forces of darkness, showing us that He is the Holy One of God. Together, they invite us to trust in God’s power and to live in a way that reflects our identity as children of light.
How do these readings apply to our daily lives? First, they remind us to stay vigilant in our faith, not allowing ourselves to be caught off guard by the challenges of life. We are called to live with sobriety and intentionality, trusting that God is always at work, even when we cannot see it. Second, they invite us to rely on Christ’s authority in our lives. Just as Jesus freed the man from the demon, He desires to free us from the spiritual bondages that hold us back. Finally, these readings call us to live as witnesses of God’s light in a world often shrouded in darkness. May we, like the early Christians, console and build one another up, living with hope and confidence in the Lord who has saved us.