Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 10, 2020

First Reading: Galatians 3.22-29

22But Scripture has enclosed everything under sin, so that the promise, by the faith of Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe23But before the faith arrived, we were preserved by being enclosed under the law, unto that faith which was to be revealed24And so the law was our guardian in Christ, in order that we might be justified by faith25But now that faith has arrived, we are no longer under a guardian26For you are all sons of God, through the faith which is in Christ Jesus27For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ have become clothed with Christ28There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither servant nor free; there is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus29And if you are Christ’s, then are you the offspring of Abraham, heirs according to the promise

Psalm 105

1Alleluia. Confess to the Lord, and invoke his name. Announce his works among the nations2Sing to him, and sing psalms to him. Describe all his wonders3Be praised in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek the Lord rejoice4Seek the Lord, and be confirmed. Seek his face always5Remember his miracles, which he has done, his portents and the judgments of his mouth6you offspring of Abraham his servant, you sons of Jacob his elect7He is the Lord our God. His judgments are throughout the entire earth8He has remembered his covenant for all ages: the word that he entrusted to a thousand generations9which he assigned to Abraham, and his oath to Isaac10And he stationed the same for Jacob with a precept, and for Israel with an eternal testament11saying: To you, I will give the land of Canaan, the allotment of your inheritance12Though they may have been but a small number, very few and foreigners there13and though they passed from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people14he allowed no man to harm them, and he reproved kings on their behalf15Do not be willing to touch my Christ, and do not be willing to malign my prophets16And he called a famine upon the land, and he crushed every foundation of the bread17He sent a man before them: Joseph, who had been sold as a slave18They humbled his feet in shackles; the iron pierced his soul19until his word arrived. The eloquence of the Lord inflamed him20The king sent and released him; he was the ruler of the people, and he dismissed him21He established him as master of his house and ruler of all his possessions22so that he might instruct his princes as himself, and teach his elders prudence23And Israel entered into Egypt, and Jacob became a sojourner in the land of Ham24And he helped his people greatly, and he strengthened them over their enemies25He turned their heart to hate his people, and to deal deceitfully with his servants26He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, the one whom he chose27He placed with them signs of his word, and portents in the land of Ham28He sent darkness and made it conceal, and he did not afflict them with his speech29He turned their waters into blood, and he slaughtered their fish30Their land brought forth frogs, even in the inner chambers of their kings31He spoke, and there came forth common flies and gnats, in every region32He gave them a shower of hail and a burning fire, in the same land33And he struck their vineyards and their fig trees, and he crushed the trees of their region34He spoke, and the locust came forth, and the caterpillar, of which there was no number35And it devoured all the grass in their land, and it consumed all the fruit of their land36And he struck all the first-born in their land, the first-fruits of all their labor37And he led them out with silver and gold, and there was not an infirm one among their tribes38Egypt was joyful at their departure, for the fear of them lay heavy upon them39He spread a cloud for their protection, and a fire, to give them light through the night40They petitioned, and the quail came; and he satisfied them with the bread of heaven41He ruptured the rock and the waters flowed: rivers gushed in the dry land42For he had called to mind his holy word, which he kept near to his servant Abraham43And he led forth his people in exultation, and his elect in rejoicing44And he gave them the regions of the Gentiles, and they possessed the labors of the peoples45so that they might observe his justifications, and inquire about his law

Gospel: Luke 11.27-28

27And it happened that, when he was saying these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you.28Then he said, "Yes, but moreover: blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are reminded of the profound unity and freedom we have in Christ. The first reading from Galatians emphasizes that through faith in Jesus Christ, we are all sons and daughters of God, transcending earthly distinctions such as Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female. This passage highlights the revolutionary truth that our identity in Christ surpasses all human divisions, uniting us in one family under God. The law, which once served as a guardian until the coming of faith, no longer holds us captive. Instead, we are justified by faith and clothed in Christ, making us heirs of God’s promise. The Gospel from Luke offers a complementary reflection. When a woman from the crowd blesses the womb and breasts of Mary, Jesus responds by shifting the focus from biological ties to spiritual ones. He declares that true blessedness comes not from physical connection to Him but from hearing and keeping the word of God. This teaching underscores the importance of living out our faith actively, not just claiming it passively. It invites us to examine how we embody God’s word in our daily lives, aligning our actions with the teachings of Christ. Together, these readings call us to live in the freedom and unity of Christ. They remind us that our true identity is rooted in faith, not in external categories or earthly bonds. As we go about our day, let us ask ourselves: Do we live as children of God, treating all people with the dignity of being one in Christ? Do we not only hear the word of God but also keep it, allowing it to transform our thoughts, words, and actions? May we embrace the promise of being heirs of God’s grace and strive to reflect that inheritance in how we love and serve one another.