Daily Readings - Mon Oct 24 2022

Ephesians

Chapter 4

³²Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

¹Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children²and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.³But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.⁴Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.⁵For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.⁶Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.⁷Therefore do not be partners with them.⁸For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light

Luke

Chapter 13

¹⁰On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,¹¹and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.¹²When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity."¹³Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.¹⁴Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath."¹⁵The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?¹⁶Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?"¹⁷When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are reminded of the transformative power of God’s love and the call to live as children of light. The first reading from Ephesians urges us to imitate God by living with kindness, mercy, and forgiveness. It warns against the corruption of sin and encourages us to walk in love, just as Christ loved us and sacrificed himself for us. The reading invites us to reject darkness and instead embrace the light of holiness, reflecting God’s goodness in our lives. The Gospel from Luke presents a vivid contrast between rigid legalism and compassionate love. Jesus heals a woman bent over by a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years, despite the objections of the synagogue ruler who insists that healing should not happen on the Sabbath. Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of valuing rules over people, emphasizing that the Sabbath was made for humanity, not the other way around. His actions reveal that true faith is not about following rules but about living with mercy and compassion. Together, these readings challenge us to reflect on how we live out our faith. Are we more focused on rules and appearances, or are we living as children of light, radiating God’s love and mercy? Let us ask ourselves: Do our words and actions bring healing and hope to others, or do they perpetuate division and darkness? May we, like Jesus, choose to be instruments of God’s grace, bringing light and freedom to those around us.