Daily Readings - Mon Oct 15 2018
Galatians
22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman.23But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise.24Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar.25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.27For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband."28Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.29But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.30But what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman."31So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
Luke
29When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.30For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.31The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.32The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of freedom, faith, and our response to God’s Word. In the first reading from Galatians, St. Paul uses the allegory of Hagar and Sarah to contrast the two covenants: the old, which binds us to servitude, and the new, which sets us free through the promise of Christ. He reminds us that we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman, and thus we must stand firm in the freedom Christ has won for us. This passage emphasizes the spiritual liberty that comes from living according to the Spirit and not being enslaved by the flesh or the law.
In the Gospel, Luke presents Jesus addressing a generation that seeks signs but fails to recognize the presence of God in their midst. Jesus points to the examples of the queen of the South and the people of Nineveh, who repented at the preaching of Jonah. He laments that this generation, despite having “more than Jonah” and “more than Solomon” in Christ, still refuses to repent. This passage challenges us to examine our own response to God’s Word and to trust in the signs already given to us—above all, the sign of Christ’s presence and his saving work.
Together, these readings call us to live in the freedom of the Spirit and to respond with faith to the Word of God. May we not be like the generation that seeks signs but fails to see the truth before their eyes. Instead, let us embrace the freedom Christ has given us and live as children of the promise, trusting in God’s grace and striving to follow his will in our daily lives.