Daily Readings - Thu Oct 11 2018
Galatians
1O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?4Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.5He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Luke
5And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;6For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?7And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.8I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.9And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.10For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.11If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?12Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?13If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages that guide us in our relationship with God. The first reading from Galatians expresses Paul's concern for the Galatians, who were swayed by false teachings that emphasized works of the law over faith. Paul reminds them that it is through faith in Jesus Christ, not through adherence to the law, that they receive the Holy Spirit. He questions their return to the law, urging them to trust in the grace of God.
In the Gospel, Luke presents Jesus teaching on the importance of persistent prayer through the parable of a friend asking for bread at midnight. Jesus illustrates that even a reluctant friend will eventually respond to persistent requests, and if human fathers give good gifts, how much more will our heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. This emphasizes trust in God's generosity and the value of perseverance in prayer.
These readings are connected by the theme of trust in God's love and provision. Paul highlights that our justification comes through faith, not works, while Jesus teaches us to trust in God's goodness and to pray with persistence. In our daily lives, we are called to live with faith, trusting that God will provide what we need. We should approach prayer with confidence, knowing that our Father in heaven is always ready to give us His Spirit. Let us embrace this trust, living with faith and perseverance, knowing that God's love and providence guide us always.