Daily Readings - Mon Sep 12 2022
1 Corinthians
17In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.18In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.19No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval.20When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat,21for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk.22Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not!23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.33So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other.
Luke
1When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.2There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die.3The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.4When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this,5because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue."6So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.7That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.8For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."9When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel."10Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct scenarios that invite us to reflect on our approach to the sacred and our faith. The first reading from 1 Corinthians addresses the Corinthians' improper behavior during the Lord's Supper. Paul admonishes them for their selfishness and lack of reverence, reminding them of the Eucharist's profound significance as a proclamation of Christ's sacrifice. He emphasizes the need for self-examination and respect for the sacrament.
In contrast, the Gospel from Luke presents the centurion, a man of humility and faith. Despite his social standing, he recognizes his unworthiness and yet trusts in Jesus' power to heal his servant. His faith is not in his own merits but in God's grace, leading Jesus to commend him for his extraordinary faith.
These readings juxtapose two attitudes: the Corinthians' disrespect and the centurion's humility. They challenge us to approach sacred moments with reverence and selflessness. In our daily lives, let us embrace humility and faith, recognizing the grace offered to us. May we, like the centurion, approach God with hearts open to His will, and may we honor the sacred with the respect and gratitude it deserves.