Daily Readings - Thu Oct 11 2018
Galatians
1O senseless Galatians, who has so fascinated you that you would not obey the truth, even though Jesus Christ has been presented before your eyes, crucified among you2I wish to know only this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith3Are you so foolish that, though you began with the Spirit, you would now end with the flesh4Have you been suffering so much without a reason? If so, then it is in vain5Therefore, does he who distributes the Spirit to you, and who works miracles among you, act by the works of the law, or by the hearing of the faith
Luke
5And he said to them: "Which of you will have a friend and will go to him in the middle of the night, and will say to him: ‘Friend, lend me three loaves6because a friend of mine has arrived from a journey to me, and I do not have anything to set before him.7And from within, he would answer by saying: ‘Do not disturb me. The door is closed now, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give it to you.8Yet if he will persevere in knocking, I tell you that, even though he would not get up and give it to him because he is a friend, yet due to his continued insistence, he will get up and give him whatever he needs9And so I say to you: Ask, and it shall be given to you. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you10For everyone who asks, receives. And whoever seeks, finds. And whoever knocks, it shall be opened to him11So then, who among you, if he asks his father for bread, he would give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he would give him a serpent, instead of a fish12Or if he will ask for an egg, he would offer to him a scorpion13Therefore, if you, being evil, know how to give good things to your sons, how much more will your Father give, from heaven, a spirit of goodness to those who ask him?
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages that guide us in our relationship with God. The first reading from Galatians expresses Paul's concern for the Galatians, who were swayed by false teachings that emphasized works of the law over faith. Paul reminds them that it is through faith in Jesus Christ, not through adherence to the law, that they receive the Holy Spirit. He questions their return to the law, urging them to trust in the grace of God.
In the Gospel, Luke presents Jesus teaching on the importance of persistent prayer through the parable of a friend asking for bread at midnight. Jesus illustrates that even a reluctant friend will eventually respond to persistent requests, and if human fathers give good gifts, how much more will our heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. This emphasizes trust in God's generosity and the value of perseverance in prayer.
These readings are connected by the theme of trust in God's love and provision. Paul highlights that our justification comes through faith, not works, while Jesus teaches us to trust in God's goodness and to pray with persistence. In our daily lives, we are called to live with faith, trusting that God will provide what we need. We should approach prayer with confidence, knowing that our Father in heaven is always ready to give us His Spirit. Let us embrace this trust, living with faith and perseverance, knowing that God's love and providence guide us always.