Daily Readings - Mon Oct 12 2020
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 response to God’s call. In the first reading from Galatians, St. Paul uses the allegory of Abraham’s two sons to contrast the old covenant, represented by Hagar and her son Ishmael, with the new covenant, represented by Sarah and her son Isaac. Paul emphasizes that we are children of the free woman, Sarah, and thus heirs of God’s promise. He urges us to stand firm in the freedom Christ has won for us and not to fall back into the slavery of sin or legalism. This passage reminds us that our identity as Christians is rooted in God’s grace and promise, not in our own efforts or observance of the law.
In the Gospel, Jesus addresses a crowd that seeks a sign, but he insists that no sign will be given except the sign of Jonah. This refers to Jonah’s preaching, which moved the people of Nineveh to repentance, and to Jesus’ own resurrection, which is the ultimate sign of God’s love and power. Jesus then contrasts the faith of the queen of the South and the people of Nineveh with the unbelief of his own generation. The queen traveled far to hear Solomon’s wisdom, and the Ninevites repented at Jonah’s preaching, while Jesus’ contemporaries, despite witnessing something far greater, remain indifferent. This passage challenges us to examine our own response to God’s Word and to ask whether we are open to the grace and truth that Jesus offers.
Together, these readings call us to live as free children of God, unencumbered by sin or doubt, and to respond wholeheartedly to the Good News. Just as the Ninevites repented at Jonah’s word, we too are invited to turn to God with humility and faith. Let us not let the distractions or hardness of heart of the world around us prevent us from embracing the freedom and joy that Christ offers. May we, like the queen of the South, seek wisdom and truth with perseverance, and may we, like the people of Nineveh, repent and turn to God with sincerity.