Daily Readings - Mon Sep 16 2024
1 Corinthians
17In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.18In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.19No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval.20When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat,21for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk.22Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not!23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.33So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other.
Luke
1When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.2There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die.3The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.4When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this,5because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue."6So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.7That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.8For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."9When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel."10Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons that guide us in our faith journey. The first reading from 1 Corinthians addresses the misuse of the Lord's Supper by the Corinthian church. Paul highlights their division, where some indulged while others went hungry, contrary to the Eucharist's purpose of unity. He reminds us that the Eucharist is a sacred remembrance of Christ's sacrifice, meant to unite us in faith and love.
The Gospel from Luke presents the centurion whose faith in Jesus' power leads to the healing of his servant. Despite his position, the centurion humbly recognizes Jesus' authority, demonstrating extraordinary faith. Jesus praises this faith, illustrating that true faith transcends boundaries and fosters unity, even between different communities.
These readings teach us about the power of faith and reverence. The Corinthians' misuse of the Eucharist reflects a lack of faith in its true meaning, leading to division. Conversely, the centurion's faith in Jesus' word brings healing and unity. As we reflect on these stories, we are reminded to approach the Eucharist with reverence and to live with faith that unites us. May we embrace this faith, fostering unity and spiritual growth in our daily lives.