Daily Readings - Mon Sep 16 2019
1 Timothy
1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.3This is good, and pleases God our Savior,4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,6who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time.7And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle--I am telling the truth, I am not lying--and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.
Luke
1When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.2There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die.3The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.4When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this,5because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue."6So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.7That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.8For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."9When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel."10Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
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.