Daily Readings - Sun Oct 16 2022
Exodus
8And Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim9And Moses said to Joshua: "Choose men. And when you go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.10Joshua did as Moses had spoken, and he fought against Amalek. But Moses and Aaron and Hur ascended to the top of the hill11And when Moses lifted up his hands, Israel prevailed. But when he released them a little while, Amalek overcame12Then the hands of Moses became heavy. And so, taking a stone, they placed it beneath him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur sustained his hands from both sides. And it happened that his hands did not tire until the setting of the sun13And Joshua put to flight Amalek and his people by the edge of the sword
2 Timothy
14Yet truly, you should remain in those things which you have learned and which have been entrusted to you. For you know from whom you have learned them15And, from your infancy, you have known the Sacred Scriptures, which are able to instruct you toward salvation, through the faith which is in Christ Jesus16All Scripture, having been divinely inspired, is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in justice17so that the man of God may be perfect, having been trained for every good work
Luke
1Now he also told them a parable, that we should continually pray and not cease2saying: "There was a certain judge in a certain city, who did not fear God and did not respect man3But there was a certain widow in that city, and she went to him, saying, ‘Vindicate me from my adversary.4And he refused to do so for a long time. But afterwards, he said within himself: ‘Even though I do not fear God, nor respect man5yet because this widow is pestering me, I will vindicate her, lest by returning, she may, in the end, wear me out.’ 6Then the Lord said: "Listen to what the unjust judge said7So then, will not God grant the vindication of his elect, who cry out to him day and night? Or will he continue to endure them8I tell you that he will quickly bring vindication to them. Yet truly, when the Son of man returns, do you think that he will find faith on earth?
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the power of faith, persistence, and trust in God’s providence. In the first reading from Exodus, Moses, with the help of Aaron and Hur, keeps his hands raised in prayer as Joshua battles Amalek. This story shows how faith and perseverance, even in the face of weariness, lead to victory. The second reading from 2 Timothy emphasizes the importance of holding fast to the Scriptures, which guide us toward salvation and equip us for every good work. Finally, the Gospel parable of the persistent widow teaches us to pray without ceasing, trusting that God, unlike the unjust judge, will hear and respond to our cries.
These readings are interconnected in their call to trust in God’s faithfulness. Moses’ raised hands symbolize prayer and reliance on God’s power, while the widow’s persistence reflects the kind of unrelenting faith Jesus calls us to. The passage from 2 Timothy reminds us that Scripture is our foundation, guiding us in living out this faith. Together, they encourage us to remain steadfast, even in the face of challenges, knowing that God will ultimately vindicate His people.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to embrace a life of prayer and trust. Like Moses, we may grow weary, but with the support of others and our eyes fixed on God, we can endure. Like the widow, we must not lose heart but continue to bring our needs before God, trusting in His justice and love. And like Timothy, we must ground ourselves in Scripture, allowing it to shape our thoughts, words, and actions. Let us, then, live with persistent faith, knowing that God hears us and will bring about His will in His time.