Daily Readings - Thu Oct 17 2024

Ephesians

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.9And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

Luke

47"Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your forefathers who killed them.48So you testify that you approve of what your forefathers did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs.49Because of this, God in his wisdom said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.'50Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world,51from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.52"Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering."53When Jesus left there, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions,54waiting to catch him in something he might say.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter profound reflections on God's grace and human response. The first reading from Ephesians reminds us of the abundant blessings we receive from God, predestined for adoption as His children through Jesus Christ. This letter, written to early Christians, emphasizes the richness of God's grace and the unity believers share in Christ. The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus condemning the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, highlighting their failure to recognize the prophets and their role in persecution. This passage underscores the spiritual blindness that can lead to rejecting God's messengers. Both readings connect through the theme of God's plan and human response. Ephesians celebrates being chosen and blessed, while Luke warns of the consequences of rejecting divine truths. Together, they remind us that grace calls for a responsive heart, open to God's will. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to recognize our blessings and remain humble. We must avoid spiritual blindness by living with gratitude and openness to God's grace. The moral lesson here is the importance of embracing our role in God's plan with humility and openness, ensuring we do not hinder others from experiencing His love. Let us strive to live in harmony with God's will, allowing His grace to guide us in unity and love.