Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 14, 2018

First Reading: Titus 3.1-7

¹Admonish them to be subordinate to the rulers and authorities, to obey their dictates, to be prepared for every good work²to speak evil of no one, not to be litigious, but to be reserved, displaying all meekness toward all men³For, in times past, we ourselves were also unwise, unbelieving, erring, servants of various desires and pleasures, acting with malice and envy, being hateful and hating one another⁴But then the kindness and humanity of God our Savior appeared⁵And he saved us, not by works of justice that we had done, but, in accord with his mercy, by the washing of regeneration and by the renovation of the Holy Spirit⁶whom he has poured out upon us in abundance, through Jesus Christ our Savior⁷so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs according to the hope of eternal life

Psalm 23

Psalms

Chapter 23

¹A Psalm of David. The Lord directs me, and nothing will be lacking to me²He has settled me here, in a place of pasture. He has led me out to the water of refreshment³He has converted my soul. He has led me away on the paths of justice, for the sake of his name⁴For, even if I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils. For you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they have given me consolation⁵You have prepared a table in my sight, opposite those who trouble me. You have anointed my head with oil, and my cup, which inebriates me, how brilliant it is⁶And your mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and so may I dwell in the house of the Lord for length of days

Gospel: Luke 17.11-19

Luke

Chapter 17

¹¹And it happened that, while he was traveling to Jerusalem, he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee¹²And as he was entering a certain town, ten leprous men met him, and they stood at a distance¹³And they lifted up their voice, saying, "Jesus, Teacher, take pity on us.¹⁴And when he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And it happened that, as they were going, they were cleansed¹⁵And one of them, when he saw that he was cleansed, returned, magnifying God with a loud voice¹⁶And he fell face down before his feet, giving thanks. And this one was a Samaritan¹⁷And in response, Jesus said: "Were not ten made clean? And so where are the nine¹⁸Was no one found who would return and give glory to God, except this foreigner?¹⁹And he said to him: "Rise up, go forth. For your faith has saved you.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter profound lessons on grace, gratitude, and the transformation of the human heart. The first reading from Titus reminds us of our call to live virtuous lives, obeying authorities and avoiding malice, as we were once lost in sin but saved by God's mercy through the Holy Spirit. The Gospel from Luke narrates the healing of ten lepers, with only the Samaritan returning to thank Jesus, highlighting the importance of gratitude and faith. The context of Titus is a pastoral letter guiding Christians on living harmoniously in society, emphasizing obedience and kindness. Luke's Gospel, set during Jesus' journey to Jerusalem, illustrates His compassionate ministry and the response of gratitude from a Samaritan, a foreigner, underscoring that true faith transcends boundaries. Both readings intertwine the themes of God's grace and our response. Titus focuses on internal transformation through mercy, while Luke's narrative shows the external act of thanksgiving. This teaches us to acknowledge God's grace in our lives and respond with heartfelt gratitude. In our daily lives, let us practice thanksgiving, recognizing God's mercy and living virtuously, ensuring that our faith is not just in our hearts but also in our actions.