Daily Readings - Wed Sep 20 2017

First Reading - 1 Timothy 3.14-16

¹⁴I am writing these things to you, with the hope that I will come to you soon¹⁵But, if I am delayed, you should know the manner in which it is necessary to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and the foundation of truth¹⁶And it is clearly great, this mystery of piety, which was manifested in the flesh, which was justified in the Spirit, which has appeared to Angels, which has been preached to the Gentiles, which is believed in the world, which has been taken up in glory

Gospel - Luke 7.31-35

Luke

Chapter 7

³¹Then the Lord said: "Therefore, to what shall I compare the men of this generation? And to what are they similar³²They are like children sitting in the marketplace, talking with one another, and saying: ‘We sang to you, and you did not dance. We lamented, and you did not weep.³³For John the Baptist came, neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.³⁴The Son of man came, eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a voracious man and a drinker of wine, a friend of tax collectors and of sinners.³⁵But wisdom is justified by all her children.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of God’s truth and how it is received in the world. In the first reading from 1 Timothy, St. Paul emphasizes the Church as the “pillar and foundation of truth,” a community called to uphold and live out the mystery of God’s plan of salvation. This mystery, revealed in the flesh and glorified in Christ, transcends human understanding and yet is accessible to all through faith. The Church, as the living body of Christ, is entrusted with preserving and proclaiming this truth in a world often hostile or indifferent to it. In the Gospel, Jesus laments the inconsistency of those who reject both the austere witness of John the Baptist and the joyful, inclusive ministry of Himself. John, who fasted and lived an ascetic life, was dismissed as having a demon, while Jesus, who ate and drank with sinners, was labeled a glutton and a drunkard. This criticism reveals the hardness of heart that resists the truth, no matter how it is presented. Jesus’ words remind us that wisdom is vindicated by her children—those who embrace God’s truth with open hearts and lives. These readings challenge us to examine how we receive God’s truth in our own lives. Are we open to His Word, no matter how it comes to us? Do we allow ourselves to be shaped by the Church’s teaching, even when it challenges our assumptions? Let us ask for the grace to embrace the mystery of God’s love with humility and joy, trusting that His truth will set us free. In a world that often resists the Gospel, may we be faithful witnesses, living out the mystery of Christ in our daily lives.