Daily Readings - Mon Sep 18 2017

First Reading - 1 Timothy 2.1-7

¹And so I beg you, first of all, to make supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings for all men²for kings, and for all who are in high places, so that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all piety and chastity³For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior⁴who wants all men to be saved and to arrive at an acknowledgment of the truth⁵For there is one God, and one mediator of God and of men, the man Christ Jesus⁶who gave himself as a redemption for all, as a testimony in its proper time⁷Of this testimony, I have been appointed a preacher and an Apostle, (I speak the truth, I do not lie) as a teacher of the Gentiles, in faith and in truth

Gospel - Luke 7.1-10

Luke

Chapter 7

¹And when he had completed all his words in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum²Now the servant of a certain centurion was dying, due to an illness. And he was very dear to him³And when he had heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, petitioning him, so that he would come and heal his servant⁴And when they had come to Jesus, they petitioned him anxiously, saying to him: "He is worthy that you should provide this to him⁵For he loves our nation, and he has built a synagogue for us.⁶Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying: "Lord, do not trouble yourself. For I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof⁷Because of this, I also did not consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant shall be healed⁸For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.⁹And upon hearing this, Jesus was amazed. And turning to the multitude following him, he said, "Amen I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.¹⁰And those who had been sent, upon returning to the house, found that the servant, who had been sick, was now healthy

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of faith and the universality of God’s love. In the first reading from 1 Timothy, St. Paul emphasizes the importance of prayer for all people, especially those in positions of authority, so that we might live peaceful and holy lives. He reminds us that God desires the salvation of all and that Christ Jesus is the one mediator between God and humanity, who gave himself as a ransom for all. This passage underscores the unity of God’s plan and the role of prayer in bringing people to the truth. In the Gospel, Luke presents the story of the centurion whose servant was healed by Jesus. The centurion, though a Gentile, showed remarkable faith. He humbly recognized his unworthiness to have Jesus enter his home, yet he trusted that Jesus’ word alone could heal his servant. Jesus, moved by this faith, praised the centurion and healed the servant instantly. This story highlights the boundless reach of God’s grace and the transformative power of faith, even in those who may seem far from God. These readings remind us that faith is not limited by our background or status. Like the centurion, we are called to trust in God’s power and providence, even when we feel unworthy or when circumstances seem impossible. St. Paul’s exhortation to pray for all people challenges us to broaden our hearts and recognize that God’s plan of salvation extends to everyone. As we go about our daily lives, let us cultivate this kind of faith—humble, trusting, and open to the ways God can work through us and for others. May we, like the centurion, allow our faith to be a bridge that connects others to God’s healing and love.