Daily Readings - Sun Oct 16 2022
Exodus
8The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.9Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands."10So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.11As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.12When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up-one on one side, one on the other-so that his hands remained steady till sunset.13So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
2 Timothy
14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Luke
1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.2He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men.3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'4"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men,5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'"6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the power of faith, persistence, and trust in God’s providence. In the first reading from Exodus, Moses, with the help of Aaron and Hur, keeps his hands raised in prayer as Joshua battles Amalek. This story shows how faith and perseverance, even in the face of weariness, lead to victory. The second reading from 2 Timothy emphasizes the importance of holding fast to the Scriptures, which guide us toward salvation and equip us for every good work. Finally, the Gospel parable of the persistent widow teaches us to pray without ceasing, trusting that God, unlike the unjust judge, will hear and respond to our cries.
These readings are interconnected in their call to trust in God’s faithfulness. Moses’ raised hands symbolize prayer and reliance on God’s power, while the widow’s persistence reflects the kind of unrelenting faith Jesus calls us to. The passage from 2 Timothy reminds us that Scripture is our foundation, guiding us in living out this faith. Together, they encourage us to remain steadfast, even in the face of challenges, knowing that God will ultimately vindicate His people.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to embrace a life of prayer and trust. Like Moses, we may grow weary, but with the support of others and our eyes fixed on God, we can endure. Like the widow, we must not lose heart but continue to bring our needs before God, trusting in His justice and love. And like Timothy, we must ground ourselves in Scripture, allowing it to shape our thoughts, words, and actions. Let us, then, live with persistent faith, knowing that God hears us and will bring about His will in His time.