Daily Readings - Thu Sep 12 2024
1 Corinthians
1Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.2The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.3But the man who loves God is known by God.4So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one.5For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"),6yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.7But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.11So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.12When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.13Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.
Luke
27"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.31Do to others as you would have them do to you.32"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them.33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that.34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full.35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.37"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the relationship between knowledge, love, and our responsibility toward others. In the first reading from 1 Corinthians, St. Paul reminds us that knowledge, while valuable, can sometimes lead to pride and division. He emphasizes that true understanding comes from charity, which builds up the community. Paul warns against using our freedom in ways that might harm others, especially the weaker or more sensitive members of the Body of Christ. He urges us to prioritize love and unity over personal preferences, even going so far as to say he would abstain from certain freedoms if it meant avoiding harm to his brother.
In the Gospel, Jesus takes this idea a step further. He calls us not only to avoid harming others but to actively love those who may oppose or wrong us. Jesus’ teachings in Luke 6 challenge us to move beyond mere tolerance or passivity. He asks us to embrace a radical way of living: to love our enemies, to bless those who curse us, and to forgive without condition. This is not a suggestion but a command rooted in the nature of God, who is merciful and kind even to those who do not deserve it. Jesus reminds us that our actions have consequences and that we will be judged by the measure we use to measure others.
These readings remind us that our faith is not just about what we know or believe but about how we live. In a world often divided by conflict and self-interest, we are called to be different. We are called to love without expecting anything in return, to forgive without condition, and to put the needs of others before our own desires. This is not always easy, but it is the path to true holiness. Let us ask ourselves today: Are we using our knowledge and freedoms in ways that build up others, or are we causing harm? Are we striving to love as God loves, without limits or expectations? May we take Jesus’ words to heart and allow his mercy and love to shape our actions, that we might truly be sons and daughters of the Most High.