The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the circumstances in our lives where we were grateful to receive a sign of love from people and Providence in our journey to fullness in life.
The Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Galatians proclaims an Allegory on Christian Freedom and The Importance of Faith.
* [4:21–31] Paul supports his appeal for the gospel (Gal 4:9; 1:6–9; 2:16; 3:2) by a further argument from scripture (cf. Gal 3:6–18). It involves the relationship of Abraham (Gal 3:6–16) to his wife, Sarah, the freeborn woman, and to Hagar, the slave woman, and the contrast between the sons born to each, Isaac, child of promise, and Ishmael, son of Hagar (Gn 16; 21). Only through Isaac is the promise of God preserved. This allegory (Gal 4:24), with its equation of the Sinai covenant and Mosaic law with slavery and of the promise of God with freedom, Paul uses only in light of previous arguments. His quotation of Gn 21:10 at Gal 4:30 suggests on a scriptural basis that the Galatians should expel those who are troubling them (Gal 1:7).
* [4:25] Hagar represents Sinai…: some manuscripts have what seems a geographical note, “For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia.”
* [4:27] Is 54:1 in the Septuagint translation is applied to Sarah as the barren one (in Gn 15) who ultimately becomes the mother not only of Isaac but now of numerous children, i.e., of all those who believe, the children of the promise (Gal 4:28). (Galatians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)
* [5:1] Freedom: Paul stresses as the conclusion from the allegory in Gal 4:21–31 this result of Christ’s work for us. It is a principle previously mentioned (Gal 2:4), the responsible use of which Gal 5:13 will emphasize. (Galatians, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 113 exhorts the congregation to praise God’s name.
* [Psalm 113] A hymn exhorting the congregation to praise God’s name, i.e., the way in which God is present in the world; the name is mentioned three times in Ps 113:1–3. The divine name is especially honored in the Temple (Ps 113:1) but its recognition is not limited by time (Ps 113:2) and space (Ps 113:3), for God is everywhere active (Ps 113:4–5) especially in rescuing the lowly faithful (Ps 113:7–9). (Psalms, PSALM 113 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus responds to The Demand for a Sign.
* [11:29–32] The “sign of Jonah” in Luke is the preaching of the need for repentance by a prophet who comes from afar. Cf. Mt 12:38–42 (and see notes there) where the “sign of Jonah” is interpreted by Jesus as his death and resurrection. (Luke, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB, n.d.)
Rev. Andy Alexander, SJ, reflects on the words of Pope Leo at Lourdes before a throng of the sick in a night time procession of lights.
“The light that guides us and draws us onward is the light of hope, which never abandons us even as we journey through this life — a life often marked by trials, yet already filled with the joy of knowing ourselves to be children of God, loved and saved by Jesus. Those who are sick are privileged witnesses to this transfiguration of our lives through faith and love of God and neighbor.”
I remembered the words of my mother before the surgery whose complications ultimately took her life: “The worst thing that could happen to me is that I would meet your father with the Lord, sooner than I’d planned.” The witness of her faith strengthened me with hope and trust.
Dearest Lord, Jesus, too often we ask you for a sign, when you’ve already given us all we need to know. Give us eyes to recognize your presence among us always and to place our trust in your love and grace. And when things seem uncertain, offer us the faith of Mary, the Saints, parents and loved ones who have lived lives full of faith and trust in you. Allow us the grace to put our lives in your hands every day. Amen. (Alexander, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes The sign of Jonah, by an anonymous early author from the Greek church
"'What is the sign of Jonah? The stumbling block of the cross. So it is not the disputers of knowledge who will be saved but those who believe true teaching. For the cross of Christ is indeed a stumbling block to those who dispute knowledge but salvation to those who believe. Paul testifies to this: 'But we, for our part, preach the crucified Christ - to the Jews indeed a stumbling block and to the Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God' (1 Corinthians 1:23-24). Why do the Jews seek signs and the Greeks seek wisdom? God pointed to the sign of the stumbling block of the cross to both the Jews and the Greeks. Thus those who wish to find Christ not through faith but through wisdom will perish on the stumbling block of foolishness. Those who wish to know the Son of God not through faith but through a demonstration of signs will remain trapped in their disbelief, falling on the stumbling block of his death. It is no small wonder that the Jews, considering the death of Christ, thought he was merely a man, when even Christians - as they purport to be but really are not - because of his death are reluctant to declare the only begotten, the crucified, as incomparable majesty." (excerpt from INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 30, the Greek fathers) (Schwager, n.d.).
Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the texts for today. Paul continues preaching to the Galatians. Paul has been using a midrash technique. The Hebrew Testament is good but not good enough. We are identified as sinners but it is not able to lead us to life. The Hebrew Testament and the New Testament are compared to a son of slavery and a son of freedom. Paul proclaims the freedom of the children of God. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus declares the only sign He will give is the sign of Jonah, who was in the belly of the whale for three days like Jesus was in the belly of the earth before Jonah is sent to Nineveh, a pagan city of the Assyrian empire that had treated the northern tribes with cruelty and the people of Nineveh converted. Jesus cites the wisdom of Solomon that brought the Queen of the South to Jerusalem. Friar Jude notes that, in like manner, the Gentile Nations will come to recognize the wisdom of Jesus.
The Word Among Us Meditation on Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31–5:1 notes that the debate about Gentile and Jewish believers has been long settled in the Church, and the message of freedom in Christ continues to resonate. But there remain so many voices telling us that we need to do more in order to be “saved.” These voices try to convince us that we need to pray in a certain way or for a certain amount of time each day if we want to be truly pleasing to the Lord. Or that we have to lead a perfectly virtuous life. Or that we have to keep up with every current Catholic trend or influencer.
So celebrate your freedom in your prayer today! Proclaim that Jesus has redeemed you from darkness and sin and death. Tell him how grateful you are that he has set you free—and that you want to live in the freedom he has won for you.
“All praise to you, Lord Jesus, for your gift of freedom!” (Meditation on Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31–5:1, 2026)
Father Richard Rohr, OFM, speaks about the spiritual path that winds away from and toward one’s true home.
In the metaphor of life as a journey, I think it’s finally about coming back home to where we started. As I approach death, I’m thinking about that a lot. I think the best way to describe what’s coming next is not “I’m dying,” but “I’m finally going home.”
The retired Episcopal bishop and theologian Stephen Charleston offers a benediction for our life’s journey.
We are forgiven for the mistakes we have made.
We are loved without condition.
We are blessed without asking.
We are watched over when we are careless.
We are understood when we are not making sense.
We are remembered
Even when we have forgotten ourselves….The Spirit around us is compassion.
We may not understand it all.
We may differ widely in how we describe it.
But we each have an invitation to freedom
A chance to see more deeply, a path to follow home.
We awaken to what is sacred. We grow into the holy.
We find what has always been there. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)
We express deep gratitude as we affirm the Guidance of the Spirit in the faith, hope, and love that we seek to share with the people as signs we encounter on the Way Home.
References
Alexander, A. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-october-12-2026
Galatians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/4?
Galatians, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/5
Luke, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/11?29
Meditation on Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31–5:1. (2026, October 12). The Word Among Us. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/10/12/1692058/
Psalms, PSALM 113 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/113?
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Returning Home. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/returning-home/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). This Is an Evil Generation; It Seeks a Sign. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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