Daily Readings - Mon Sep 13 2021
1 Timothy
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
Luke
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
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful lessons about faith, humility, and the universal call to salvation. The first reading from 1 Timothy emphasizes the importance of prayer for all people, especially those in positions of authority, so that we might live peaceful and godly lives. Paul 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 necessity of prayer in bringing others to the truth.
The Gospel from Luke presents us with the story of the centurion, a Roman military officer, whose servant was gravely ill. Despite his position of power, the centurion humbly recognizes his unworthiness to approach Jesus directly and instead sends Jewish elders and then friends to intercede on his behalf. His remarkable faith is evident when he says, “Say the word, and my servant shall be healed.” Jesus is moved by the centurion’s faith and heals the servant without even entering his house. This story highlights the power of humility and trust in God, as well as the inclusivity of God’s mercy, which extends even to those outside the Jewish community.
These readings are deeply connected. Both emphasize the universality of God’s plan and the importance of faith and prayer. In 1 Timothy, we are called to pray for all people, recognizing that God’s desire for salvation is not limited to any one group. In the Gospel, we see this principle in action through the centurion, a Gentile, whose faith Jesus praises as greater than any he has found in Israel. Together, these readings remind us that God’s grace is available to all and that our faith, when combined with humility, can lead to extraordinary outcomes.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how we can apply their lessons to our daily lives. First, let us embrace the call to pray for everyone, especially those in authority, that we might live in peace and harmony. Second, let us cultivate humility and trust in God, recognizing that His power is not limited by our worthiness. Finally, let us remember that faith in God can overcome even the most daunting challenges. May we, like the centurion, approach God with humility and confidence, trusting in His providence and mercy.