Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 31, 2018
First Reading: Ephesians 6.1-9
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is just2Honor your father and your mother. This is the first commandment with a promise3so that it may be well with you, and so that you may have a long life upon the earth4And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but educate them with the discipline and correction of the Lord5Servants, be obedient to your lords according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the simplicity of your heart, as to Christ6Do not serve only when seen, as if to please men, but act as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart7Serve with good will, as to the Lord, and not to men8For you know that whatever good each one will do, the same will he receive from the Lord, whether he is servant or free9And you, lords, act similarly toward them, setting aside threats, knowing that the Lord of both you and them is in heaven. For with him there is no favoritism toward anyone
Psalm 145
1The Praise of David himself. I will extol you, O God, my king. And I will bless your name, in this time and forever and ever2Throughout every single day, I will bless you. And I will praise your name, in this time and forever and ever3The Lord is great and exceedingly praiseworthy. And there is no end to his greatness4Generation after generation will praise your works, and they will declare your power5They will tell of the magnificent glory of your sanctity. And they will discourse of your wonders6And they will talk about the virtue of your terrible acts. And they will describe your greatness7They will shout about the memory of your abundant sweetness. And they will exult in your justice8The Lord is compassionate and merciful, patient and full of mercy9The Lord is sweet to all things, and his compassion is upon all his works10O Lord, may all your works confess to you, and let your holy ones bless you11They will speak of the glory of your kingdom, and they will declare your power12so as to make known to the sons of men your power and the glory of your magnificent kingdom13Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages, and your dominion is with all, from generation to generation. The Lord is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works14The Lord lifts up all who have fallen down, and he sets upright all who have been thrown down15O Lord, all eyes hope in you, and you provide their food in due time16You open your hand, and you fill every kind of animal with a blessing17The Lord is just in all his ways and holy in all his works18The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth19He will do the will of those who fear him, and he will heed their supplication and accomplish their salvation20The Lord watches over all who love him. And he will destroy all sinners21My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and may all flesh bless his holy name, in this time and forever and ever
Gospel: Luke 13.22-30
22And he was traveling through the cities and towns, teaching and making his way to Jerusalem23And someone said to him, "Lord, are they few who are saved?" But he said to them24"Strive to enter through the narrow gate. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and not be able25Then, when the father of the family will have entered and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us.’ And in response, he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.26Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.27And he will say to you: ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!28In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, yet you yourselves are expelled outside29And they will arrive from the East, and the West, and the North, and the South; and they will recline at table in the kingdom of God30And behold, those who are last will be first, and those who are first will be last.
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore two interconnected themes that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from Ephesians emphasizes the importance of living virtuously within our relationships. It calls for children to obey their parents, fathers to nurture their children with kindness, servants to serve with sincerity, and masters to treat their servants with fairness. This passage underscores the value of mutual respect and trust in God's plan, where our actions are seen as service to Christ, promising that our good deeds will be rewarded.
The Gospel from Luke shifts our focus to the ultimate judgment, where Jesus speaks about the narrow gate. He warns that merely knowing Him or being part of a community isn't sufficient for salvation. Jesus emphasizes that many will seek entry but will be turned away, highlighting that true faith requires more than superficial association. He illustrates that people from all walks of life will join the kingdom, and the last will be first, challenging our assumptions about who is worthy.
Together, these readings remind us that our daily lives must reflect the teachings of Christ. The virtues outlined in Ephesians—obedience, kindness, and fairness—are not just social norms but essential for our spiritual journey. Jesus' narrow gate is not just a metaphor but a call to action, urging us to live a life that truly embodies His message. The moral lesson here is clear: salvation is not guaranteed by association but by living a life that mirrors Christ's teachings. Let us strive to live virtuously, trusting in God's grace, and not take our place in the kingdom for granted.