Daily Readings - Fri Oct 10 2025
Joel
13Put on sackcloth, O priests, and mourn; wail, you who minister before the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, you who minister before my God; for the grain offerings and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God.14Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.15Alas for that day! For the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.
1Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand-2a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come.
Luke
15But some of them said, "By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons."16Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.17Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.18If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub.19Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.20But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.21"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe.22But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.23"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.24"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.'25When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.26Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first."
Sermon
The readings today from Joel and Luke guide us through themes of repentance and spiritual warfare, urging us to reflect on our inner lives and our relationship with God. Joel's prophecy calls us to lament and gather, recognizing the nearness of the Day of the Lord, which brings both judgment and an opportunity for repentance. This call is not just a warning but an invitation to seek God's mercy and grace. In Luke, Jesus confronts accusations about His power, emphasizing that His works are signs of God's kingdom. He teaches us that true strength lies not in casting out evil but in being filled with God's presence, ensuring that our hearts remain clean and resistant to further corruption.
Joel's context is one of impending doom, urging the community to turn back to God through fasting and prayer. This call to repentance is timeless, reminding us to examine our lives and seek purification. Jesus, in Luke, builds on this by highlighting the futility of a life without spiritual depth. His parable of the unclean spirit warns that mere superficial cleansing is insufficient; we must be filled with the Holy Spirit to avoid relapse into sin. This teaches us that our spiritual lives require constant nourishment and vigilance.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to embrace spiritual practices that strengthen our relationship with God. Whether through prayer, reflection, or community worship, we must actively seek to be filled with God's grace. The moral lesson here is clear: repentance is not just about turning away from sin but about turning towards God, ensuring our hearts are not just clean but also filled with His presence. Let us strive to create space for God, allowing His kingdom to take root in our lives, bringing light and hope in a world that often feels dark and divided.