Daily Readings - Mon Oct 14 2019

¹Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God--²the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures³regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David,⁴and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.⁵Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.⁶And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.⁷To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke

Chapter 11

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 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.