Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 7, 2019
First Reading: Romans 14.7-12
7For none of us lives for himself, and none of us dies for himself8For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord9For Christ died and rose again for this purpose: that he might be the ruler of both the dead and the living10So then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ11For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.12And so, each one of us shall offer an explanation of himself to God
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 15.1-10
1Now tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to him, so that they might listen to him2And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This one accepts sinners and eats with them.3And he told this parable to them, saying4"What man among you, who has one hundred sheep, and if he will have lost one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the one whom he had lost, until he finds it5And when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing6And returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them: ‘Congratulate me! For I have found my sheep, which had been lost.7I say to you, that there will be so much more joy in heaven over one sinner repenting, than over the ninety-nine just, who do not need to repent8Or what woman, having ten drachmas, if she will have lost one drachma, would not light a candle, and sweep the house, and diligently search until she finds it9And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying: ‘Rejoice with me! For I have found the drachma, which I had lost.10So I say to you, there will be joy before the Angels of God over even one sinner who is repentant.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on God’s boundless love and mercy, as well as our responsibility to live in a way that reflects His will. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul reminds us that we belong to the Lord in life and in death. He warns against judging or despising others, emphasizing that each of us will stand before God’s judgment seat. This passage calls us to humility and unity, urging us to focus on our own relationship with God rather than criticizing others.
In the Gospel, Jesus shares two parables—the lost sheep and the lost coin—both of which highlight the joy of finding what was lost. These stories reveal God’s relentless love and desire to bring sinners back to Himself. The Pharisees and scribes, who grumbled about Jesus dining with tax collectors and sinners, are reminded that God’s heart rejoices when even one sinner repents. These parables teach us that no one is beyond God’s reach and that every soul is precious in His eyes.
Together, these readings challenge us to embrace a spirit of compassion and humility. Just as the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to find the one lost sheep, and the woman searches tirelessly for her lost coin, we are called to seek out those who are lost or estranged, whether they are others or even ourselves. In our daily lives, this means avoiding judgment and instead offering love, patience, and understanding. Let us strive to live in a way that reflects God’s mercy, remembering that we all belong to Him and that every moment is an opportunity to draw closer to His heart.