Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 27, 2020
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 1.1-9
1Paul, called as an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God; and Sosthenes, a brother2to the Church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints with all who are invoking the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place of theirs and of ours3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ4I give thanks to my God continuously for you because of the grace of God that has been given to you in Christ Jesus5By that grace, in all things, you have become wealthy in him, in every word and in all knowledge6And so, the testimony of Christ has been strengthened in you7In this way, nothing is lacking to you in any grace, as you await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ8And he, too, will strengthen you, even until the end, without guilt, until the day of the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ9God is faithful. Through him, you have been called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord
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: Matthew 24.42-51
42Therefore, be vigilant. For you do not know at what hour your Lord will return43But know this: if only the father of the family knew at what hour the thief would arrive, he would certainly keep vigil and not permit his house to be broken into44For this reason, you also must be prepared, for you do not know at what hour the Son of man will return45Consider this: who is a faithful and prudent servant, who has been appointed by his lord over his family, to give them their portion in due time46Blessed is that servant, if, when his lord has arrived, he shall find him doing so47Amen I say to you, he shall appoint him over all of his goods48But if that evil servant has said in his heart, ‘My lord has been delayed in returning,49and so, he begins to strike his fellow servants, and he eats and drinks with the inebriated50then the lord of that servant will arrive on a day that he does not expect, and at an hour that he does not know51And he shall separate him, and he shall place his portion with the hypocrites, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Sermon
In today's readings, we hear Paul's heartfelt greeting to the Corinthian church, where he expresses gratitude for their spiritual enrichment and confidence in their faith. He reminds them of the grace they've received and encourages them to remain steadfast as they await Christ's return. In the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the faithful and unfaithful servants to emphasize the importance of vigilance and preparedness for His second coming. He warns against complacency and urges His followers to be responsible stewards of their talents and resources.
Both readings highlight the themes of faithfulness and readiness. Paul's letter to the Corinthians underscores the gifts and graces they've received, while Jesus' parable in Matthew serves as a reminder to use these gifts wisely and remain spiritually alert. The connection between the two lies in the call to live with purpose and responsibility, recognizing that our actions have eternal consequences.
As we reflect on these readings, we are invited to examine our own lives. Are we using the talents, time, and resources God has given us in a way that honors Him? Do we remain vigilant, keeping our hearts and minds focused on eternal truths? The moral lesson here is clear: faithfulness and stewardship are essential. We must live each day with intention, knowing that our commitment to God will be reflected in how we manage His gifts. Let us strive to be faithful servants, prepared to meet the Lord whenever He comes, living in a way that aligns with His will and values.