Daily Readings - Mon Oct 14 2019

¹Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,²Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)³Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;⁴And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:⁵By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:⁶Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:⁷To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke

Chapter 11

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 guide us through themes of faith, divine plan, and repentance. In Romans, Paul introduces himself as a servant of Christ, emphasizing the Gospel's roots in prophecy and the divine nature of Jesus. This sets the stage for understanding the Good News as a fulfillment of God's promises. In Luke, Jesus critiques the crowd for seeking signs, using Jonah's story to illustrate the importance of faith without constant proof. He also highlights the queen of the South and the Ninevites as examples of those who responded faithfully to God's message. Both readings underscore the importance of trusting in God's plan. Paul's letter establishes the authority of the Gospel, while Jesus' words in Luke call for a deeper faith. The connection between the readings lies in their emphasis on responding to God's message with openness and repentance, rather than skepticism or resistance. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our own faith. How often do we seek signs or proofs before fully trusting in God? Jesus reminds us that faith is about trusting in what is already revealed. Like the queen of the South and the Ninevites, we are called to respond with openness and humility. Let us embrace the Gospel with faith, allowing it to transform our lives and guide our actions. The moral lesson here is clear: true faith is not about seeking more signs, but about responding wholeheartedly to God's presence in our lives.