Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 4, 2018
First Reading: Job 19.21-27
21Have mercy on me, have compassion on me, at least you my friends, because the hand of the Lord has touched me22Why do you pursue me just as God does, and satiate yourselves with my flesh23Who will grant to me that my words may be written down? Who will grant to me that they may be inscribed in a book24with an iron pen and a plate of lead, or else be carved in stone25For I know that my Redeemer lives, and on the last day I will rise out of the earth26And I will be enveloped again with my skin, and in my flesh I will see my God27It is he whom I myself will see, and he whom my eyes will behold, and no other. This, my hope, has taken rest in my bosom
Psalm 27
1A Psalm of David, before he was sealed. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life, of whom shall I be afraid2Meanwhile, the guilty draw near to me, so as to eat my flesh. Those who trouble me, my enemies, have themselves been weakened and have fallen3If entrenched armies were to stand together against me, my heart would not fear. If a battle were to rise up against me, I would have hope in this4One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, so that I may behold the delight of the Lord, and may visit his temple5For he has hidden me in his tabernacle. In the day of evils, he has protected me in the hidden place of his tabernacle6He has exalted me upon the rock, and now he has exalted my head above my enemies. I have circled around and offered a sacrifice of loud exclamation in his tabernacle. I will sing, and I will compose a psalm, to the Lord7Hear my voice, O Lord, with which I have cried out to you. Have mercy on me, and hear me8My heart has spoken to you; my face has sought you. I yearn for your face, O Lord9Do not turn your face away from me. In your wrath, do not turn aside from your servant. Be my helper. Do not abandon me, and do not despise me, O God, my Saviour10For my father and my mother have left me behind, but the Lord has taken me up11O Lord, establish a law for me in your way, and direct me in the right path, because of my enemies12Do not surrender me to the souls of those who trouble me. For unjust witnesses have risen up against me, and iniquity has lied to itself13I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living14Wait for the Lord, act manfully; and let your heart be strengthened, and remain with the Lord
Gospel: Luke 10.1-12
1Then, after these things, the Lord also designated another seventy-two. And he sent them in pairs before his face, into every city and place where he was to arrive2And he said to them: "Certainly the harvest is great, but the workers are few. Therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into his harvest3Go forth. Behold, I send you out like lambs among wolves4Do not choose to carry a purse, nor provisions, nor shoes; and you shall greet no one along the way5Into whatever house you will have entered, first say, ‘Peace to this house.6And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you7And remain in the same house, eating and drinking the things that are with them. For the worker is worthy of his pay. Do not choose to pass from house to house8And into whatever city you have entered and they have received you, eat what they set before you9And cure the sick who are in that place, and proclaim to them, ‘The kingdom of God has drawn near to you.10But into whatever city you have entered and they have not received you, going out into its main streets, say11‘Even the dust which clings to us from your city, we wipe away against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has drawn near.12I say to you, that in that day, Sodom will be forgiven more than that city will be
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and the call to mission. In the first reading from Job, we encounter a man deeply afflicted, yet unwavering in his belief in God’s justice and redemption. Job cries out for compassion from his friends, but more importantly, he expresses his unshakable hope in his Redeemer, who will one day raise him from the earth. This passage reminds us that even in the midst of suffering, faith can sustain us and lead us to trust in God’s ultimate plan.
In the Gospel, Jesus sends out seventy-two disciples to prepare the way for his coming. He instructs them to go forth with simplicity, trusting in God’s providence rather than relying on material possessions or worldly comforts. They are to bring peace, healing, and the message of the kingdom of God. This mission is not without challenge, as Jesus warns them of rejection, but he assures them that their efforts are not in vain. The kingdom of God will draw near, and even in rejection, the message of salvation remains.
These readings are deeply connected. Job’s faith in the midst of suffering mirrors the trust required of the disciples as they embark on their mission. Both remind us that following God’s will often involves embracing uncertainty and hardship. In our daily lives, we are called to be like Job, holding fast to hope even when circumstances seem overwhelming. We are also called to be like the disciples, sharing the Good News of God’s love with courage and simplicity. Let us ask ourselves: Do we trust in God’s plan for us? Are we willing to step out in faith, even when the path is uncertain? May we find strength in the example of Job and the mission of the disciples, and may we live each day with hope and purpose, knowing that God’s kingdom is near.