Daily Readings - Mon Sep 09 2024
1 Corinthians
1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife.2And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?3Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.4When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present,5hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.6Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?7Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast--as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.8Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.
Luke
6On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled.7The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath.8But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Get up and stand in front of everyone." So he got up and stood there.9Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?"10He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He did so, and his hand was completely restored.11But they were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful lessons about living as followers of Christ. The first reading from 1 Corinthians addresses a moral issue within the church, where a man is living with his father's wife. Paul expresses concern that the community has not taken action, emphasizing the need to expel the man to protect the spiritual well-being of the community. He uses the metaphor of leaven to illustrate how sin can spread, urging the Corinthians to purge sin and live with sincerity, just as Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed.
The Gospel from Luke presents a different yet related scenario. Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, challenging the Pharisees' strict legalism. While they focus on the law, Jesus prioritizes compassion, asking if it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. This healing angers the Pharisees, highlighting the tension between legalistic observance and merciful action.
These readings remind us of the balance we must strike in our lives. We are called to maintain moral integrity and accountability within our communities, recognizing that sin can have far-reaching effects. Simultaneously, we must embody compassion and mercy, reflecting Jesus' example of prioritizing human well-being over rigid rules. In our daily lives, this means fostering communities that uphold standards of holiness while also being places of healing and love.
As we reflect on these teachings, let us consider how we can apply them in our own lives. May we strive to be communities that support each other in living virtuously, while also reaching out with compassion to those in need. True holiness is not just about discipline but also about living with integrity and kindness, inspired by Christ's example. Let us pray for the grace to balance discipline with mercy, that we may truly reflect God's love in all we do.