Daily Readings - Mon Oct 15 2018
Galatians
22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.23His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.24These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar.25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.27For it is written: "Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband."28Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.29At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now.30But what does the Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son."31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Luke
29As the crowds increased, Jesus said, "This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.30For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.31The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.32The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah 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.