Daily Readings - Thu Oct 06 2022
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 explore themes of faith, persistence, and trust in God's providence. The first reading from Galatians reminds us that our relationship with God is rooted in faith, not in adhering to the law. Paul emphasizes that the Spirit is received through faith, not through works, urging the Galatians to trust in God's grace. The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus teaching about persistence in prayer through the parable of the friend at midnight. Despite initial refusal, the friend's persistence leads to his request being granted, illustrating the importance of not giving up in our prayers.
Both readings contextually address trust in God. Galatians was written to a community tempted to revert to legalistic practices, while Luke's parable was part of Jesus' teachings on prayer. Together, they highlight the necessity of faith and persistence. In Galatians, faith is the foundation of our spiritual life, while in Luke, persistence in prayer reflects our trust in God's goodness and timing.
Applying these teachings to our lives, we are encouraged to trust in God's grace and remain persistent in prayer. Just as the friend in the parable didn't give up, we too should continue praying, even when faced with challenges. This persistence isn't about wearing God down but about deepening our faith and alignment with His will. Consider a situation where you felt discouraged but chose to keep praying; perhaps you experienced God's provision in unexpected ways.
In reflection, these readings invite us to embrace a life of faith and trust. God, as a loving Father, desires to give us good gifts. We can have confidence that He hears our prayers and will respond in His perfect timing. Let us approach prayer with persistence and trust, knowing that our Heavenly Father is always working for our good. May we, like the persistent friend, continue knocking, seeking, and asking, trusting in God's love and provision.