Daily Readings - Sat Nov 30 2019
Romans
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.
Matthew
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 transformative power of faith and the call to action it demands. In Romans 10:9-18, Paul emphasizes that salvation comes through confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in the resurrection. He underscores the importance of hearing the Word of God to ignite faith, highlighting the role of preaching in spreading the Gospel. This theological foundation is illustrated in Matthew 4:18-22, where Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Their immediate and complete response, leaving their livelihoods behind, exemplifies the active commitment faith requires.
These passages are deeply connected. Paul's words provide the theological basis for how faith is born through hearing the Word, while the Gospel narrative demonstrates the practical response to such faith. The disciples' prompt obedience shows that true faith leads to tangible actions, trusting in God's plan even when it demands sacrifice.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to reflect on our own response to God's Word. Like the disciples, we are invited to trust in God's call, whether it leads to significant life changes or smaller, everyday acts of faith. The moral lesson here is clear: hearing the Word is only the first step. True faith is lived out through our actions, as we share the Gospel and embody Christ's teachings in our lives. Let us strive to be open to God's call, trusting in His plan and responding with courage and commitment.