Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 30, 2018
First Reading: Romans 10.9-18
9For if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and if you believe in your heart that God has raised him up from the dead, you shall be saved10For with the heart, we believe unto justice; but with the mouth, confession is unto salvation11For Scripture says: "All those who believe in him shall not be confounded.12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. For the same Lord is over all, richly in all who call upon him13For all those who have called upon the name of the Lord shall be saved14Then in what way will those who have not believed in him call upon him? Or in what way will those who have not heard of him believe in him? And in what way will they hear of him without preaching15And truly, in what way will they preach, unless they have been sent, just as it has been written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who evangelize peace, of those who evangelize what is good!16But not all are obedient to the Gospel. For Isaiah says: "Lord, who has believed our report?17Therefore, faith is from hearing, and hearing is through the Word of Christ18But I say: Have they not heard? For certainly: "Their sound has gone forth throughout all the earth, and their words unto the limits of the whole world.
Psalm 19
1Unto the end. A Psalm of David. The heavens describe the glory of God, and the firmament announces the work of his hands2Day proclaims the word to day, and night to night imparts knowledge3There are no speeches or conversations, where their voices are not being heard4Their sound has gone forth through all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world5He has placed his tabernacle in the sun, and he is like a bridegroom coming out of his bedroom. He has exulted like a giant running along the way6his departure is from the summit of heaven. And his course reaches all the way to its summit. Neither is there anyone who can hide himself from his heat7The law of the Lord is immaculate, converting souls. The testimony of the Lord is faithful, providing wisdom to little ones8The justice of the Lord is right, rejoicing hearts. The precepts of the Lord are brilliant, enlightening the eyes9The fear of the Lord is holy, enduring for all generations. The judgments of the Lord are true, justified in themselves10desirable beyond gold and many precious stones, and sweeter than honey and the honeycomb11For, indeed, your servant keeps them, and in keeping them, there are many rewards12Who can understand transgression? From my hidden faults, cleanse me, O Lord13and from those of others, spare your servant. If they will have no dominion over me, then I will be immaculate, and I will be cleansed from the greatest transgression14And the eloquence of my mouth will be so as to please, along with the meditation of my heart, in your sight, forever, O Lord, my helper and my redeemer
Gospel: Matthew 4.18-22
18And Jesus, walking near the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen)19And he said to them: "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.20And at once, leaving behind their nets, they followed him21And continuing on from there, he saw another two brothers, James of Zebedee, and his brother John, in a ship with their father Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them22And immediately, leaving their nets and their father behind, they followed him
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the profound connection between faith, proclamation, and discipleship. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul emphasizes that salvation comes through confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection. He underscores the universal call to salvation, insisting that there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is rich in mercy to all who call upon Him. Paul also highlights the necessity of preaching, for how can people believe if they have not heard the Word of God? He quotes Isaiah to express the mystery of unbelief but affirms that faith comes through hearing the Word of Christ.
In the Gospel, Matthew presents a vivid scene of Jesus calling His first disciples by the Sea of Galilee. Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John are fishermen who, upon hearing Jesus’ invitation, immediately leave their nets and follow Him. This passage illustrates the radical response of faith, where the call of the Lord takes precedence over everything else. Their willingness to abandon their livelihood and family reflects the transformative power of encountering Christ.
These readings are deeply interconnected. The call to follow Jesus in the Gospel is the lived expression of the faith St. Paul describes in Romans. The apostles’ immediate response to Jesus’ invitation demonstrates the kind of faith that comes from hearing the Word of God. Their willingness to leave behind their old lives to become "fishers of men" shows how the Gospel message has the power to reorient our lives entirely. For us today, these readings invite us to reflect on our own response to God’s call. Are we open to hearing His Word? Are we willing to let go of our attachments to follow Him more closely? The moral lesson is clear: faith is not just a intellectual assent but a lived commitment to Jesus Christ. Let us ask for the grace to hear His voice and to follow Him with courage and generosity, trusting that He will use us to bring His light to a world in need.