Daily Readings - Sat Sep 18 2021
1 Timothy
13In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you14to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,15which God will bring about in his own time--God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,16who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
Luke
4While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable:5"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up.6Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."9His disciples asked him what this parable meant.10He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, "'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.'11"This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.12Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.13Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.14The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.15But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the importance of fidelity to God and the transformative power of His Word in our lives. The first reading from 1 Timothy urges us to observe the commandment blamelessly and to await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. This passage emphasizes the eternal nature of God’s power and the ultimate triumph of His plan. The Gospel from Luke presents the parable of the sower, where Jesus teaches us about the different ways people receive the Word of God. Some hear it but lose it quickly, others receive it with joy but falter in times of trial, and still, others allow the distractions of the world to choke its fruitfulness. Only those with a good and noble heart, who persevere in faith, bear fruit in patience.
The context of these readings is clear: they call us to reflect on how we receive and respond to God’s Word in our own lives. In 1 Timothy, we are reminded of the ultimate revelation of God’s glory, which should inspire us to live with integrity and hope. In the parable of the sower, Jesus invites us to examine the soil of our hearts. Are we like the rocky ground, where faith fades under pressure? Or are we like the thorny soil, where the cares of the world distract us from nurturing God’s Word? The challenge is to become like the good soil, where the Word takes root and flourishes, leading to a life of fruitful discipleship.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: How do I receive God’s Word? Do I allow it to transform me, or do I let it be stolen away by the pressures and distractions of the world? Let us strive to cultivate hearts that are open, receptive, and patient. May we trust in the power of God’s Word to bring forth fruit in our lives, even in the midst of challenges. The moral lesson is clear: fidelity to God and a deep receptivity to His Word are the keys to a life of true spiritual fruitfulness.