Daily Readings - Tue Sep 12 2023
Colossians
6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him,7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,10and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.11In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ,12having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Luke
12One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.13When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:14Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,15Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot,16Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.17He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon,18who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured,19and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of the profound truths of our faith and the transformative power of Christ in our lives. The first reading from Colossians urges us to live deeply rooted in Christ, avoiding the deceptive influences of the world. It emphasizes that in Christ, we are complete and have triumphed over all spiritual powers through His sacrifice on the cross. The second reading from Luke describes Jesus choosing the twelve apostles after a night of prayer and then healing many, showcasing His divine power and compassion.
Both readings highlight the centrality of Christ. While Colossians focuses on the spiritual reality of being in Christ, Luke illustrates the practical manifestation of His power and mission through the apostles and healing. This connection invites us to trust in Christ's power and to live as His disciples, grounded in faith amidst life's challenges.
As we reflect on these readings, we are called to be instruments of Christ's grace and healing in the world. Let us remain rooted in faith, trusting in His power to guide and transform us. May we, like the apostles, embrace our mission to share His love and be His hands and feet in the world, bringing light and hope to all we encounter.