Daily Readings - Fri Sep 27 2024
Ecclesiastes
1There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:2a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,3a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,4a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,5a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,6a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,7a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,8a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.9What does the worker gain from his toil?10I have seen the burden God has laid on men.11He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Luke
18Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?"19They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life."20"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God."21Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.22And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the nature of time, identity, and the divine plan. The first reading from Ecclesiastes reminds us that life is marked by seasons—times of birth and death, planting and uprooting, joy and sorrow. This passage, part of the wisdom literature, encourages us to embrace the rhythms of life, trusting that God has ordained a purpose for every moment. The author acknowledges the mystery of God’s plan, noting that while we may not fully understand it, we are called to live faithfully within the time and circumstances given to us.
The Gospel reading from Luke shifts our focus to the identity of Jesus and the unfolding of God’s plan. While the crowds speculate about who Jesus might be, Peter confesses him as the Christ of God. Jesus then reveals that his mission includes suffering, rejection, and ultimately, resurrection. This passage marks a turning point in Luke’s narrative, as Jesus begins to prepare his disciples for the cross. It reminds us that the path of discipleship is not one of ease but of sacrifice, and that true life comes through surrender to God’s will.
Together, these readings invite us to trust in God’s timing and plan, even when the road ahead seems uncertain or difficult. Ecclesiastes teaches us to accept the seasons of life with patience and faith, while Luke challenges us to embrace the cross as a part of following Christ. May we find strength in knowing that every moment, whether one of joy or sorrow, is part of God’s larger plan. Let us strive to live with courage and hope, trusting that in the end, God’s purposes will prevail.