Daily Readings - Tue Sep 12 2017

First Reading - Colossians 2.6-15

⁶Therefore, just as you have received the Lord Jesus Christ, walk in him⁷Be rooted and continually built up in Christ. And be confirmed in the faith, just as you have also learned it, increasing in him with acts of thanksgiving⁸See to it that no one deceives you through philosophy and empty falsehoods, as found in the traditions of men, in accord with the influences of the world, and not in accord with Christ⁹For in him, all the fullness of the Divine Nature dwells bodily¹⁰And in him, you have been filled; for he is the head of all principality and power¹¹In him also, you have been circumcised with a circumcision not made by hand, not by the despoiling of the body of flesh, but by the circumcision of Christ¹²You have been buried with him in baptism. In him also, you have risen again through faith, by the work of God, who raised him up from the dead¹³And when you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he enlivened you, together with him, forgiving you of all transgressions¹⁴and wiping away the handwriting of the decree which was against us, which was contrary to us. And he has taken this away from your midst, affixing it to the Cross¹⁵And so, despoiling principalities and powers, he has led them away confidently and openly, triumphing over them in himself

Gospel - Luke 6.12-19

Luke

Chapter 6

¹²And it happened that, in those days, he went out to a mountain to pray. And he was in the prayer of God throughout the night¹³And when daylight had arrived, he called his disciples. And he chose twelve out of them (whom he also named Apostles)¹⁴Simon, whom he surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew¹⁵Matthew and Thomas, James of Alphaeus, and Simon who is called the Zealot¹⁶and Jude of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was a traitor¹⁷And descending with them, he stood in a level place with a multitude of his disciples, and a copious multitude of people from all of Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast, and Tyre and Sidon¹⁸who had come so that they might listen to him and be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled by unclean spirits were cured¹⁹And the entire crowd was trying to touch him, because power went out from him and healed all

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound connection between our faith in Christ and our mission to live as His disciples in the world. In the first reading from Colossians, St. Paul reminds us that our lives must be deeply rooted in Christ. He warns us against being swayed by empty philosophies and human traditions that can lead us away from the truth of the Gospel. Instead, we are called to live in gratitude and humility, recognizing that in Christ, we have been fully reconciled to God. Through Baptism, we have been buried and raised with Him, and our sins have been forgiven. This is the foundation of our Christian identity. In the Gospel, Luke describes Jesus choosing the Twelve Apostles after a night of prayer. This moment marks the beginning of their formal mission to spread the Good News. Jesus then descends to a level place, where a great crowd gathers to listen to Him and be healed. The power of God flows through Him, touching all who are in need. This scene reminds us that our faith is not just about personal spirituality but also about being part of a community that seeks healing and transformation. Just as the Apostles were called to follow Jesus and share His message, we too are called to live out our faith in the world. These readings challenge us to examine how we are living our faith. Are we rooted in Christ, or are we allowing the influences of the world to pull us away from Him? Are we using our unique gifts and talents to serve others and share the love of God? Let us remember that our faith is not just about what we believe but also about how we live. Like the Apostles, we are called to be instruments of God’s healing and hope in a world that so desperately needs it. May we, like the crowd in the Gospel, reach out to touch Jesus, and may His power flow through us to bring light and love to all those around us.