Daily Readings - Mon Oct 14 2024
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 repentance. In the first reading from Galatians, St. Paul uses the allegory of Abraham’s two sons to contrast the slavery of sin and the freedom of life in Christ. Hagar, the servant woman, represents the old covenant, bound by the law and human effort, while Sarah, the free woman, symbolizes the new covenant, born of God’s promise and grace. Paul reminds us that we are not children of the slave woman but of the free, and we must stand firm in the liberty Christ has won for us. The Gospel from Luke complements this by emphasizing the call to repentance and trust in God’s presence. Jesus criticizes the generation that seeks signs, pointing to Jonah as a sign of conversion and the Queen of the South as a model of seeking wisdom. He warns that those who do not repent will be condemned, while those who listen to his words have already been given more than enough to believe.
The connection between the readings lies in their call to live in the freedom and grace of God. Galatians reminds us that true freedom is not about external observances but about living in the Spirit, unshackled from sin and self-reliance. Luke’s Gospel, on the other hand, challenges us to respond to God’s mercy with humility and openness. Both readings encourage us to move beyond superficial faith and to embrace a deeper conversion of heart. This means letting go of our attachment to sin and worldly securities, trusting instead in God’s promises and living as children of the free woman, Sarah.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to examine how we live out our faith. Are we still trying to earn God’s favor through our own efforts, or are we resting in the freedom of His grace? Do we seek signs and proofs, or do we trust in His presence and Word? The moral lesson is clear: we are called to live as people of faith, repentance, and trust. Let us not be content with a shallow spirituality but instead allow the Spirit to transform us, so that we may bear fruit in our lives and witness to the freedom and love of Christ.