Daily Readings - Tue Sep 13 2022
1 Corinthians
12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.13For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.14Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?31But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.
Luke
11Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him.12As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out--the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.13When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry."14Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!"15The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.16They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people."17This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the profound unity and diversity within the Body of Christ, as well as the compassionate power of God at work in the world. In the first reading from 1 Corinthians, St. Paul emphasizes that the Church is one body made up of many parts, each with its own unique role and gift. He reminds us that no part of the body can exist independently of the others; we are all interconnected and interdependent. This teaching challenges us to recognize the value of every person in the Church and to seek the greater gifts that build up the entire community.
In the Gospel, Luke presents a vivid scene of Jesus’ compassion and divine authority. As Jesus encounters a widow mourning the loss of her only son, he is moved by mercy and performs a miraculous act of raising the young man from death. This story highlights Jesus’ deep empathy for those suffering and his power to transform even the most desperate situations. The crowd’s response—fear, glorification of God, and recognition of Jesus as a prophet—reminds us that God’s actions in the world always point to his love and care for his people.
These readings invite us to reflect on our place within the Body of Christ and how we can live out our faith in a way that reflects God’s compassion and unity. Just as Jesus reached out to the widow and her son, we are called to be instruments of God’s mercy in the lives of others. Whether through our unique gifts, our prayers, or our acts of service, we are part of the larger story of God’s work in the world. Let us strive to live in unity and mutual support, trusting that God’s grace will flow through us to touch the lives of those around us.