Daily Readings - Mon Oct 17 2022
Ephesians
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--9not by works, so that no one can boast.10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Luke
13Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."14Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?"15Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."16And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.17He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.19And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."'20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'21"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of grace, wealth, and the true nature of our relationship with God. The first reading from Ephesians reminds us that we are saved not by our own works, but by God’s grace. It emphasizes that our salvation is a gift, and we are called to live as God’s handiwork, created for good works. This passage encourages us to trust in God’s providence and to recognize that our worth is not measured by what we do, but by the love God has shown us in Christ.
The Gospel from Luke presents a stark contrast with the parable of the rich fool. A man, consumed by his wealth, builds larger barns to store his possessions, only to have his life demanded of him that very night. Jesus warns us against the dangers of greed and the illusion that our lives are secure because of what we own. The parable challenges us to examine our priorities and to recognize that true wealth lies in our relationship with God, not in material possessions.
Together, these readings remind us that our ultimate security and happiness do not come from what we accumulate, but from living in accordance with God’s will. We are called to trust in His grace, to live with gratitude for the gifts we have been given, and to use them in service to others. Let us reflect on our own lives and ask ourselves: Are we storing up treasures on earth, or are we building a treasure in heaven? May we strive to live with hearts that are rich in God, rather than consumed by the fleeting allure of this world.