Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 1, 2021
First Reading: Baruch 1.15-22
15And you will say, ‘To the Lord our God is justice, but to us is confusion of our face, just as it is this day for all of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem16even for our kings, and our leaders, and our priests, and our prophets, and our fathers17We have sinned before the Lord our God and we have not believed, lacking confidence in him18And we have not been submissive to him, and we have not listened to the voice of the Lord our God, so as to walk in his commandments, which he has given to us19From the day that he led our fathers out of the land of Egypt, even to this day, we were unfaithful to the Lord our God, and, having been scattered, we fell away. We did not listen to his voice20And we joined ourselves to many evils and to the curses which the Lord established through Moses, his servant, who led our fathers out of the land of Egypt, to give us a land flowing with milk and honey, just as it is in the present day21And we have not listened to the voice of the Lord our God, according to all the words of the prophets whom he sent to us22And we have gone astray, each one after the inclinations of his own malignant heart, serving strange gods and doing evil before the eyes of the Lord our God
Psalm 79
1A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the Gentiles have entered into your inheritance; they have polluted your holy temple. They have set Jerusalem as a place to tend fruit trees2They have placed the dead bodies of your servants as food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your saints for the beasts of the earth3They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one who would bury them4We have become a disgrace to our neighbors, an object of ridicule and mockery to those who are around us5How long, O Lord? Will you be angry until the end? Will your zeal be kindled like a fire6Pour out your wrath among the Gentiles, who have not known you, and upon the kingdoms that have not invoked your name7For they have devoured Jacob, and they have desolated his place8Do not remember our iniquities of the past. May your mercies quickly intercept us, for we have become exceedingly poor9Help us, O God, our Savior. And free us, Lord, for the glory of your name. And forgive us our sins for the sake of your name10Let them not say among the Gentiles, "Where is their God?" And may your name become known among the nations before our eyes. For the retribution of your servants’ blood, which has been poured out11may the groans of the shackled enter before you. According to the greatness of your arm, take possession of the sons of those who have been killed12And repay our neighbors sevenfold within their sinews. It is the reproach of the same ones who brought reproach against you, O Lord13But we are your people and the sheep of your pasture: we will give thanks to you in all ages. From generation to generation, we will announce your praise
Gospel: Luke 10.13-16
13Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that have been wrought in you, had been wrought in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in haircloth and ashes14Yet truly, Tyre and Sidon will be forgiven more in the judgment than you will be15And as for you, Capernaum, who would be exalted even up to Heaven: you shall be submerged into Hell16Whoever hears you, hears me. And whoever despises you, despises me. And whoever despises me, despises him who sent me.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on sin, repentance, and God’s justice. The first reading from Baruch is a communal confession of sin, acknowledging Israel’s unfaithfulness to God. The people recognize that their suffering is a consequence of their disobedience and lack of trust in God’s plan. This passage is set in the context of the Babylonian exile, where the Israelites are forced to confront their failures and seek mercy. The second reading from Luke finds Jesus addressing the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, which failed to repent despite witnessing miracles. Jesus laments their hardness of heart, contrasting their response with how even the historically sinful cities of Tyre and Sidon would have repented under such circumstances.
Both readings emphasize the importance of humility and self-awareness in our relationship with God. Baruch’s confession shows that true repentance involves acknowledging our sins and taking responsibility for our actions. Similarly, Jesus’ words in Luke highlight the gravity of rejecting God’s grace and the opportunities He gives us to turn back to Him. The connection between the two readings lies in their call to conversion. Whether in the Old Testament or the New, God’s people are invited to examine their hearts, recognize their sinfulness, and return to the Lord with sincerity.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Where in our lives are we resisting God’s call to repentance? Are there areas where we, like the towns in Luke’s Gospel, have grown complacent or indifferent to God’s presence? Let us learn from the example of Baruch, who leads his people in a heartfelt confession of sin. May we, too, approach God with humility, acknowledging our failures and trusting in His mercy. In doing so, we open ourselves to the transformative power of His grace, which calls us to live more faithfully as His disciples.