Daily Readings - Mon Oct 14 2019

¹Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called as an Apostle, separated for the Gospel of God²which he had promised beforehand, through his Prophets, in the Holy Scriptures³about his Son, who was made for him from the offspring of David according to the flesh⁴the Son of God, who was predestined in virtue according to the Spirit of sanctification from the resurrection of the dead, our Lord Jesus Christ⁵through whom we have received grace and Apostleship, for the sake of his name, for the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles⁶from whom you also have been called by Jesus Christ⁷To all who are at Rome, the beloved of God, called as saints. Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ

Luke

Chapter 11

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 guide us through themes of faith, divine plan, and repentance. In Romans, Paul introduces himself as a servant of Christ, emphasizing the Gospel's roots in prophecy and the divine nature of Jesus. This sets the stage for understanding the Good News as a fulfillment of God's promises. In Luke, Jesus critiques the crowd for seeking signs, using Jonah's story to illustrate the importance of faith without constant proof. He also highlights the queen of the South and the Ninevites as examples of those who responded faithfully to God's message. Both readings underscore the importance of trusting in God's plan. Paul's letter establishes the authority of the Gospel, while Jesus' words in Luke call for a deeper faith. The connection between the readings lies in their emphasis on responding to God's message with openness and repentance, rather than skepticism or resistance. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our own faith. How often do we seek signs or proofs before fully trusting in God? Jesus reminds us that faith is about trusting in what is already revealed. Like the queen of the South and the Ninevites, we are called to respond with openness and humility. Let us embrace the Gospel with faith, allowing it to transform our lives and guide our actions. The moral lesson here is clear: true faith is not about seeking more signs, but about responding wholeheartedly to God's presence in our lives.