Daily Readings - Mon Oct 14 2024
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 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.