Daily Readings - Sat Oct 25 2025
Romans
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
Luke
1Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.2Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?3I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.4Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them--do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?5I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."6Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any.7So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'8"'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it.9If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'"
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the transformative power of the Spirit and the call to repentance. The first reading from Romans reminds us that through Christ, we are freed from the law of sin and death, living instead in the Spirit. This passage emphasizes the contrast between a life governed by the flesh and one guided by the Spirit, urging us to seek life and peace through spiritual mindfulness.
The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus teaching on repentance, using tragic events to illustrate that suffering does not correlate with sinfulness. He calls all to repent, reinforcing this message with the parable of the fig tree. This parable highlights God’s patience, offering us time to grow and bear fruit, while also reminding us that this opportunity is not indefinite.
These readings connect through their emphasis on spiritual transformation. Romans focuses on the internal shift from flesh to Spirit, while Luke’s parable illustrates the external manifestation of this transformation through fruitful living. Together, they remind us that our faith is both a gift and a call to action, requiring us to nurture our spiritual growth and repent when we falter.
In our daily lives, this means embracing the Spirit’s guidance, seeking holiness, and being mindful of our actions. The fig tree’s story encourages patience with ourselves and others, recognizing that spiritual growth is a process. The moral lesson here is clear: we are called to a life transformed by the Spirit, bearing fruit through repentance and trust in God’s mercy. Let us embrace this call with gratitude and dedication, trusting in God’s patience as we strive to grow in holiness.