Daily Readings - Thu Oct 10 2024
Galatians
1O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.2Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?3Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?4Did you suffer so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain?5Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith--
Luke
5And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves,6for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him';7and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything'?8I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.9And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.10For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.11What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent;12or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?13If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the relationship between faith, prayer, and God’s generous love. In the first reading from Galatians, St. Paul expresses frustration with the Galatians for turning away from the Gospel. He reminds them that they received the Spirit through faith, not through works of the law. This emphasizes that our relationship with God is rooted in trust and grace, not in our own efforts or achievements. Paul’s words challenge us to examine our own faith: do we rely on God’s grace, or do we try to earn His favor through external actions?
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the power of persistent prayer through the parable of the friend at midnight. The man’s persistence in knocking eventually moves his friend to act, not because of friendship, but because of his insistence. Jesus then connects this to our relationship with God, assuring us that if even imperfect human fathers know how to give good gifts, how much more will our heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. This passage reminds us that prayer is not about persuading a reluctant God but about trusting in His love and generosity. Like the persistent friend, we are called to pray with confidence and perseverance, knowing that God desires to give us what is good.
These readings together teach us to trust in God’s grace and to approach Him with boldness in prayer. St. Paul warns us against falling into the trap of self-reliance, while Jesus encourages us to ask, seek, and knock with faith. In our daily lives, this means letting go of the idea that we can earn God’s love and instead embracing the truth that He is a loving Father who desires to give us His Spirit. May we live with the confidence that comes from knowing we are children of God, and may our prayers reflect the trust and perseverance that Jesus teaches.