Daily Readings - Thu Oct 10 2024
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the relationship between faith, prayer, and God’s generous love. In the first reading from Galatians, St. Paul expresses frustration with the Galatians for turning away from the Gospel. He reminds them that they received the Spirit through faith, not through works of the law. This emphasizes that our relationship with God is rooted in trust and grace, not in our own efforts or achievements. Paul’s words challenge us to examine our own faith: do we rely on God’s grace, or do we try to earn His favor through external actions?
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the power of persistent prayer through the parable of the friend at midnight. The man’s persistence in knocking eventually moves his friend to act, not because of friendship, but because of his insistence. Jesus then connects this to our relationship with God, assuring us that if even imperfect human fathers know how to give good gifts, how much more will our heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. This passage reminds us that prayer is not about persuading a reluctant God but about trusting in His love and generosity. Like the persistent friend, we are called to pray with confidence and perseverance, knowing that God desires to give us what is good.
These readings together teach us to trust in God’s grace and to approach Him with boldness in prayer. St. Paul warns us against falling into the trap of self-reliance, while Jesus encourages us to ask, seek, and knock with faith. In our daily lives, this means letting go of the idea that we can earn God’s love and instead embracing the truth that He is a loving Father who desires to give us His Spirit. May we live with the confidence that comes from knowing we are children of God, and may our prayers reflect the trust and perseverance that Jesus teaches.