Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 10, 2017
Psalm 95
1The Praise of a Canticle, of David himself. Come, let us exult in the Lord. Let us shout joyfully to God, our Savior2Let us anticipate his presence with confession, and let us sing joyfully to him with psalms3For the Lord is a great God and a great King over all gods4For in his hand are all the limits of the earth, and the heights of the mountains are his5For the sea is his, and he made it, and his hands formed the dry land6Come, let us adore and fall prostrate, and let us weep before the Lord who made us7For he is the Lord our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand8If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts9as in the provocation, according to the day of temptation in the wilderness, where your fathers tempted me; they tested me, though they had seen my works10For forty years, I was offended by that generation, and I said: These have always strayed in heart11And these have not known my ways. So I swore in my wrath: They shall not enter into my rest
Second Reading: Romans 13.8-10
8You should owe nothing to anyone, except so as to love one another. For whoever loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law9For example: You shall not commit adultery. You shall not kill. You shall not steal. You shall not speak false testimony. You shall not covet. And if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself10The love of neighbor does no harm. Therefore, love is the plenitude of the law
Gospel: Matthew 18.15-20
15But if your brother has sinned against you, go and correct him, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you will have regained your brother16But if he will not listen you, invite with you one or two more, so that every word may stand by the mouth of two or three witnesses17And if he will not listen to them, tell the Church. But if he will not listen to the Church, let him be to you like the pagan and the tax collector18Amen I say to you, whatever you will have bound on earth, shall be bound also in heaven, and whatever you will have released on earth, shall be released also in heaven19Again I say to you, that if two of those among you have agreed on earth, about anything whatsoever that they have requested, it shall be done for them by my Father, who is in heaven20For wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there am I, in their midst.
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore the essence of love and community, guided by the teachings of St. Paul and Jesus. The Second Reading from Romans reminds us that love is the fulfillment of the law, emphasizing that loving our neighbor as ourselves is paramount. This love, Paul notes, does no harm and embodies the spirit of the law. The Gospel from Matthew complements this by outlining a structured approach to conflict resolution within the community, stressing the importance of reconciliation and prayer.
The context of these readings is rooted in their respective audiences. Paul's letter to the Romans was addressed to a diverse community, urging them to live harmoniously through love. Matthew's Gospel, part of Jesus' teachings on community life, provides practical steps for handling conflicts, ensuring that love and forgiveness are central. Together, these passages highlight that love is not just a feeling but a actionable principle that guides both our personal interactions and communal life.
In our daily lives, these teachings call us to approach conflicts with love and a willingness to reconcile. Whether in personal relationships or within our communities, we are urged to seek resolution through love and understanding. The moral lesson here is clear: love is the foundation of our actions, shaping how we interact and resolve discord. By embracing this love, we not only fulfill the law but also create a harmonious and compassionate community, reflecting God's presence in our midst.