Daily Readings - Mon Sep 16 2019
1 Timothy
1I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.7Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
Luke
1Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.2And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.3And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.4And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:5For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.6Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:7Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.8For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.9When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.10And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the universal nature of God’s love and the power of faith and humility. In the first reading from 1 Timothy, St. Paul emphasizes the importance of prayer for all people, especially those in positions of authority, so that we might live peaceful and godly lives. He reminds us that God desires the salvation of all and that Jesus Christ is the one mediator between God and humanity, who gave himself as a ransom for all. This passage underscores the Catholic belief in the universal mission of the Church and the necessity of prayer for the entire world.
In the Gospel, we encounter a centurion whose servant is healed by Jesus. The centurion, though a Gentile, shows remarkable faith in Jesus’ power, humbly recognizing his unworthiness to have Jesus enter his home. Jesus praises the centurion’s faith, noting that even in Israel, he had not encountered such great faith. This story highlights the universality of God’s grace and the fact that faith can be found in unexpected places. It also teaches us about the importance of humility and trust in God’s power.
These readings remind us that our faith is not limited to ourselves or our own communities but extends to all people. We are called to pray for everyone, just as St. Paul urges, and to trust in God’s providence, just as the centurion did. In our daily lives, we can apply this by fostering a spirit of prayer for those around us, especially those we might not usually think to pray for. Let us also cultivate humility and faith, recognizing that God’s grace is at work in ways we may not always see or understand. May we, like the centurion, trust in God’s power and allow His love to reach beyond our own boundaries.