Daily Readings - Mon Oct 15 2018
Galatians
22For it is written that Abraham had two sons: one by a servant woman, and one by a free woman23And he who was of the servant was born according to the flesh. But he who was of the free woman was born by the promise24These things are said through an allegory. For these represent the two testaments. Certainly the one, on Mount Sinai, gives birth unto servitude, which is Hagar25For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia, which is related to the Jerusalem of the present time, and it serves with her sons26But that Jerusalem which is above is free; the same is our mother27For it was written: "Rejoice, O barren one, though you do not conceive. Burst forth and cry out, though you do not give birth. For many are the children of the desolate, even more than of her who has a husband.28Now we, brothers, like Isaac, are sons of the promise29But just as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now30And what does Scripture say? "Cast out the woman servant and her son. For the son of a servant women shall not be an heir with the son of a free woman.31And so, brothers, we are not the sons of the servant woman, but rather of the free woman. And this is the freedom with which Christ has set us free
Luke
29Then, as the crowds were quickly gathering, he began to say: "This generation is a wicked generation: it seeks a sign. But no sign will be given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah30For just as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of man be to this generation31The queen of the South will rise up, at the judgment, with the men of this generation, and she will condemn them. For she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And behold, more than Solomon is here32The men of Nineveh will rise up, at the judgment, with this generation, and they will condemn it. For at the preaching of Jonah, they repented. And behold, more than Jonah is here
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of freedom, faith, and our response to God’s Word. In the first reading from Galatians, St. Paul uses the allegory of Hagar and Sarah to contrast the two covenants: the old, which binds us to servitude, and the new, which sets us free through the promise of Christ. He reminds us that we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman, and thus we must stand firm in the freedom Christ has won for us. This passage emphasizes the spiritual liberty that comes from living according to the Spirit and not being enslaved by the flesh or the law.
In the Gospel, Luke presents Jesus addressing a generation that seeks signs but fails to recognize the presence of God in their midst. Jesus points to the examples of the queen of the South and the people of Nineveh, who repented at the preaching of Jonah. He laments that this generation, despite having “more than Jonah” and “more than Solomon” in Christ, still refuses to repent. This passage challenges us to examine our own response to God’s Word and to trust in the signs already given to us—above all, the sign of Christ’s presence and his saving work.
Together, these readings call us to live in the freedom of the Spirit and to respond with faith to the Word of God. May we not be like the generation that seeks signs but fails to see the truth before their eyes. Instead, let us embrace the freedom Christ has given us and live as children of the promise, trusting in God’s grace and striving to follow his will in our daily lives.