Daily Readings - Mon Oct 16 2023

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

Dear friends in Christ, Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the essence of faith and our response to God’s call. In the first reading from Romans, Paul introduces himself as a servant of Christ, called to spread the Gospel. He emphasizes Jesus as the Son of God, born from David’s lineage, and through whom we receive grace. This passage sets the foundation of Paul’s mission, rooted in Scripture and the divine plan of salvation. In the Gospel, Luke presents Jesus addressing a crowd, criticizing their demand for signs. Jesus refers to the sign of Jonah, highlighting how the people of Nineveh repented upon Jonah’s preaching. This serves as a call to recognize God’s presence in our lives without needing constant signs, trusting in His Word. These readings remind us to embrace faith actively. Like the people of Nineveh, we are called to repent and respond to God’s message. In our daily lives, this means trusting God without needing proofs, being open to His grace, and living faithfully. Let us reflect on our own response to God’s call, seeking to deepen our faith and live in accordance with His will. May we find strength in His Word and grace, guiding us on our journey of faith.