Daily Readings - Wed Oct 05 2022
Galatians
1Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.2I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.7On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews.8For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles.9James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.10All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.11When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.12Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.13The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.14When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?
Luke
1One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."2He said to them, "When you pray, say: "'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.3Give us each day our daily bread.4Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. '"
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful lessons about unity, prayer, and living out our faith authentically. The first reading from Galatians describes a pivotal moment in the early Church when Paul confronts Peter about hypocrisy. Peter had been eating with Gentile believers but withdrew when Jewish Christians arrived, fearing judgment. Paul calls him out, emphasizing that the Gospel is for all people, regardless of background. This passage reminds us that our faith should transcend divisions and that we are called to live out the truth of the Gospel without compromise.
The Gospel reading from Luke offers us the Lord’s Prayer, a timeless guide to authentic prayer. Jesus teaches us to address God as Father, seeking His will and provision while asking for forgiveness and protection from temptation. This prayer is not just a formula but a way of life—it calls us to humility, dependence on God, and a commitment to forgive others as we seek forgiveness. Together, these readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our faith in unity and integrity.
As we apply these teachings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Are there areas where we compartmentalize our faith or exclude others? Do we pray with sincerity, seeking God’s will and forgiveness? May we, like Paul, stand for the truth of the Gospel, embracing all people as equal in God’s eyes. And may our prayers, like the Lord’s Prayer, root us in humility and a deep connection to our Father. Let us strive to live as one body in Christ, united in love and prayer.