Daily Readings - Mon Oct 11 2021

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

In today's readings, we encounter two profound messages that invite us to reflect on our faith and response to God's revelation. The first reading from Romans introduces Paul as a servant of Christ, called to spread the Gospel. He emphasizes Jesus as the Son of God, both in His humanity through David and His divinity through resurrection. Paul's mission to the Gentiles highlights the universal call to faith, greeting the Romans with grace and peace. The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus addressing the skepticism of His time. He criticizes the generation for seeking signs, referencing Jonah as the only sign they will receive. Jesus uses the examples of the queen of the South and the Ninevites to illustrate their responsiveness to God's message, contrasting it with the current generation's reluctance. He underscores that something greater than Jonah is present, urging repentance. Both readings remind us of the importance of faith and response to God's revelation. Like the queen and Nineveh, we should embrace God's message without demanding more signs. In our daily lives, let us remain open to God's presence, trusting in His revelation and living with faith and humility. The moral lesson is clear: repentance and faith are essential, and we must not let skepticism hinder our response to God's call.