Daily Readings - Wed Sep 13 2023
Colossians
1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Luke
20Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.21Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.22Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.23"Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.24"But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.25Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.26Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the transformative power of living in Christ and the call to embrace a life of humility and compassion. In the first reading from Colossians, St. Paul urges the community to seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. He reminds them that their old way of life, marked by sin and division, has been left behind, and they are now called to live as new creatures in Christ. This new life is characterized by unity, equality, and freedom from the burdens of sin and worldly desires. The Apostle emphasizes that in Christ, all distinctions disappear, and we are all one in him.
In the Gospel, Luke presents Jesus delivering the Beatitudes, a profound teaching on true blessedness. Jesus pronounces blessings on those who are poor, hungry, and weeping, while issuing warnings to those who are wealthy, satisfied, and laughing now. This reversal of fortunes challenges the conventional understanding of happiness and success. Jesus is not condemning wealth or joy in themselves but is calling his followers to live with humility, detachment, and a deep trust in God’s providence. The Beatitudes remind us that true happiness comes from living a life of integrity, compassion, and fidelity to God’s will, even in the face of persecution or hardship.
Both readings call us to live in a way that reflects our union with Christ and our commitment to his teachings. St. Paul’s letter encourages us to strip away the old self and clothe ourselves with the new, living in accordance with the image of our Creator. The Beatitudes, on the other hand, remind us that our ultimate reward lies in heaven, not in the fleeting comforts of this world. As we navigate our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Are we living as new creatures in Christ, or are we still clinging to the old ways of sin and division? Are we seeking true happiness in God, or are we settling for the temporary satisfactions of the world? May we embrace the call to live with humility, compassion, and trust in God, knowing that our true life is hidden with Christ in God.