Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 2, 2017
First Reading: Exodus 23.20-23a
20Behold, I will send my Angel, who will go before you, and preserve you on your journey, and lead you into the place that I have prepared21Heed him, and hear his voice, and do not hold him in disregard. For he will not release you when you have sinned, and my name is in him22But if you listen to his voice and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will afflict those who afflict you23And my Angel will go before you, and he will bring you to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Canaanite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, whom I will crush
Psalm 91
1The Praise of a Canticle, of David. Whoever dwells with the assistance of the Most High will abide in the protection of the God of heaven2He will say to the Lord, "You are my supporter and my refuge." My God, I will hope in him3For he has freed me from the snare of those who go hunting, and from the harsh word4He will overshadow you with his shoulders, and you will hope under his wings5His truth will surround you with a shield. You will not be afraid: before the terror of the night6before the arrow flying in the day, before the troubles that wander in the darkness, nor of invasion and the midday demon7A thousand will fall before your side and ten thousand before your right hand. Yet it will not draw near you8So then, truly, you will consider with your eyes, and you will see the retribution of sinners9For you, O Lord, are my hope. You have set the Most High as your refuge10Disaster will not draw near to you, and the scourge will not approach your tabernacle11For he has given his Angels charge over you, so as to preserve you in all your ways12With their hands, they will carry you, lest you hurt your foot against a stone13You will walk over the asp and the king serpent, and you will trample the lion and the dragon14Because he has hoped in me, I will free him. I will protect him because he has known my name15He will cry out to me, and I will heed him. I am with him in tribulation. I will rescue him, and I will glorify him16I will fill him with length of days. And I will reveal to him my salvation
Gospel: Matthew 18.1-5, 10
1In that hour, the disciples drew near to Jesus, saying, "Whom do you consider to be greater in the kingdom of heaven?2And Jesus, calling to himself a little child, placed him in their midst3And he said: "Amen I say to you, unless you change and become like little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven4Therefore, whoever will have humbled himself like this little child, such a one is greater in the kingdom of heaven5And whoever shall accept one such little child in my name, accepts me10See to it that you do not despise even one of these little ones. For I say to you, that their Angels in heaven continually look upon the face of my Father, who is in heaven
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound teachings from Exodus and Matthew that guide us toward a life of trust, humility, and divine connection. The Exodus passage describes God's promise to send an angel to guide the Israelites, emphasizing the importance of obedience and trust in God's providence. This angelic presence is not just a guide but also a protector, underscoring the necessity of heeding divine guidance. In Matthew, Jesus teaches about the humility required to enter the kingdom of heaven, likening it to the innocence of a child. He also mentions that each child has an angel in heaven who continually beholds God's face, highlighting the sacred value of each individual, especially the vulnerable.
These readings, though from different contexts, share a common thread—the role of angels and the virtue of humility. In Exodus, the angel represents God's active presence and guidance, while in Matthew, angels symbolize the divine care for each person, particularly children. Together, they remind us that our journey is not solitary; we are accompanied by divine messengers. The connection between the two readings lies in their emphasis on trust and humility. Just as the Israelites were to trust the angel's guidance, we are called to embrace humility, recognizing our dependence on God.
In our daily lives, these teachings invite us to cultivate trust and humility. Trusting in God's guidance means surrendering our will to His, even when the path is uncertain. Humility involves recognizing our limitations and valuing each person's worth, especially the weak. Let us reflect on how we can embody this humility and trust, allowing God's presence to guide us. May we find strength in His promises and inspiration in the innocence of children, trusting that our angels are ever-vigilant, interceding on our behalf. Let us strive to live with hearts open to divine guidance, embracing humility as a cornerstone of our faith.