Daily Readings - Sat Oct 14 2017

First Reading - Joel 3.12-21

¹²Let them arise and ascend to the valley of Jehoshaphat. For there I will sit, so as to judge all the nations of the world¹³Send forth the sickles, because the harvest has matured. Advance and descend, for the press is full, the pressing room is overflowing. For their malice has been increasing¹⁴Nations, nations in the valley of being cut to pieces: for the day of the Lord fittingly takes place in the valley of being cut to pieces¹⁵The sun and the moon have been darkened, and the stars have withdrawn their splendor¹⁶And the Lord will roar from Zion and utter his voice from Jerusalem. And the heavens and the earth will be moved. And the Lord will be the hope of his people and the strength of the sons of Israel¹⁷And you will know that I am the Lord your God, dwelling on Zion, my holy mountain. And Jerusalem will be holy, and strangers will not cross through it anymore¹⁸And it will happen, in that day, that the mountains will drip sweetness, and the hills will flow with milk. And the waters will pass through all the rivers of Judah. And a fountain will go forth from the house of the Lord, and it will irrigate the desert of thorns¹⁹Egypt will be in desolation, and Edom will be a wilderness destroyed, because of what they have unfairly done to the sons of Judah, and because they have shed innocent blood in their land²⁰And Judea will be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem for generation upon generation²¹And I will cleanse their blood, which I had not cleansed. And the Lord will remain in Zion

Gospel - Luke 11.27-28

Luke

Chapter 11

²⁷And it happened that, when he was saying these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you.²⁸Then he said, "Yes, but moreover: blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages about God’s judgment, restoration, and the true nature of blessedness. The first reading from Joel paints a vivid picture of the Day of the Lord, a time of reckoning for the nations. Joel describes a valley of judgment where God will sit in judgment, separating the wicked from the righteous. Yet, amidst this imagery of judgment, there is also a promise of restoration. Joel envisions a future where Jerusalem is holy, and the land flows with abundance, symbolizing God’s ultimate plan to renew and restore creation. This passage reminds us that God’s justice is not merely punitive but is tied to His desire to bring life and flourishing to His people. The Gospel reading from Luke shifts our focus to the nature of true blessedness. A woman from the crowd praises Jesus’ mother, but Jesus redirects her attention. He says, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.” This exchange highlights that true blessedness is not found in physical relationships or earthly ties but in a deep, spiritual connection to God. Jesus is not dismissing the importance of family, but He is emphasizing that our ultimate fulfillment comes from living in accordance with God’s will. This teaching challenges us to examine our priorities and ensure that our lives are rooted in faith and obedience to God’s word. These readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our faith in daily life. Joel’s vision of judgment and restoration calls us to consider how we align our lives with God’s justice and mercy. Are we living in a way that reflects His love and care for all people? The Gospel reminds us that true happiness and fulfillment come from a life of faith and obedience. As we go about our day, let us ask ourselves: Am I hearing and keeping God’s word? Am I trusting in His plan, even when the path is uncertain? May we find our hope and strength in the Lord, knowing that He is our refuge and our guide, both now and forever.