Daily Readings - Mon Oct 15 2018
Galatians
22For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.23But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.24Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.25For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.26But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.27For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.28Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.29But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.30Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.31So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
Luke
29And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.30For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.31The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.32The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas 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.