Daily Readings - Sat Sep 23 2023
1 Timothy
13In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you14to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,15which God will bring about in his own time--God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,16who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
Luke
4While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable:5"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up.6Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."9His disciples asked him what this parable meant.10He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, "'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.'11"This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.12Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.13Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.14The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.15But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of the profound importance of faith and the nurturing of God's word within us. The first reading from 1 Timothy emphasizes a charge to uphold the commandment and anticipate the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the King of kings. This passage underscores the significance of steadfast faith and the ultimate revelation of God's power. Similarly, the Gospel from Luke presents the parable of the sower, illustrating how the seed of God's word is received in different ways, symbolized by the various soils. This parable invites us to reflect on how we receive and nurture God's message in our lives.
Both readings connect through their emphasis on preparation and receptivity. In 1 Timothy, the focus is on the expectation of Christ's return, urging us to remain faithful and unwavering. The parable in Luke's Gospel complements this by highlighting the importance of creating fertile ground in our hearts for God's word to take root. Just as the sower scatters seeds, God graciously offers His word to all, but the response varies. The good soil represents those who, with open and noble hearts, allow the word to flourish, bearing fruit through patience and perseverance.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine our own receptivity to God's word. Are we like the rocky ground, where faith withers under trial, or the thorny soil, where worldly concerns choke the word? Or are we the good soil, where the word takes root and bears fruit? As we navigate life's challenges, may we strive to nurture our faith, trusting in God's power and grace. Let us cultivate patience and perseverance, allowing the word of God to transform us, so that we may bear fruit abundantly in our journey with Him.