Daily Readings - Sat Oct 30 2021
Romans
1Therefore, I say: Has God driven away his people? Let it not be so! For I, too, am an Israelite of the offspring of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin2God has not driven away his people, whom he foreknew. And do you not know what Scripture says in Elijah, how he calls upon God against Israel11Therefore, I say: Have they stumbled in such a way that they should fall? Let it not be so! Instead, by their offense, salvation is with the Gentiles, so that they may be a rival to them12Now if their offense is the riches of the world, and if their diminution is the riches of the Gentiles, how much more is their fullness25For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery (lest you seem wise only to yourselves) that a certain blindness has occurred in Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has arrived26And in this way, all of Israel may be saved, just as it was written: "From Zion shall arrive he who delivers, and he shall turn impiety away from Jacob27And this will be my covenant for them, when I will take away their sins.28Certainly, according to the Gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But according to the election, they are most beloved for the sake of the fathers29For the gifts and the call of God are without regret
Luke
1And it happened that, when Jesus entered the house of a certain leader of the Pharisees on the Sabbath to eat bread, they were observing him7Then he also told a parable, to those who were invited, noticing how they chose the first seats at the table, saying to them8"When you are invited to a wedding, do not sit down in the first place, lest perhaps someone more honored than yourself may have been invited by him9And then he who called both you and him, approaching, may say to you, ‘Give this place to him.’ And then you would begin, with shame, to take the last place10But when you are invited, go, sit down in the lowest place, so that, when he who invited you arrives, he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the sight of those who sit at table together with you11For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of humility, God’s plan of salvation, and the relationship between Israel and the Gentiles. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul emphasizes that God has not rejected his chosen people, Israel. He explains that while some of Israel has stumbled, this has allowed the Gentiles to be incorporated into God’s plan of salvation. Paul makes it clear that this is part of a larger mystery: Israel’s partial blindness is temporary, and in the end, all of Israel will be saved. This passage reminds us of God’s faithfulness and the unity of his plan for all people.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches a lesson in humility through a parable about seating at a banquet. He warns against seeking the highest places, as this can lead to embarrassment when someone more honored takes their rightful place. Instead, Jesus advises taking the lowest place, trusting that the host will elevate us if it is appropriate. This teaching is not just about social etiquette; it is a spiritual lesson about the importance of humility. Jesus makes it clear that exalting oneself leads to being humbled, while humbling oneself leads to being exalted.
These readings are connected by the theme of humility and trust in God’s plan. In Romans, Paul shows that Israel’s story is not one of rejection but of God’s broader plan to include all people. Similarly, in the Gospel, Jesus calls us to humility, recognizing that true greatness comes not from self-promotion but from surrendering to God’s will. In our daily lives, we are invited to embrace humility, trusting that God’s plan is at work even when we cannot fully understand it. Let us seek to live with humility, recognizing that our true dignity comes from God, not from our own efforts.