Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 4, 2021
First Reading: Romans 14.7-12
7For none of us lives for himself, and none of us dies for himself8For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord9For Christ died and rose again for this purpose: that he might be the ruler of both the dead and the living10So then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ11For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.12And so, each one of us shall offer an explanation of himself to God
Psalm 27
1A Psalm of David, before he was sealed. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life, of whom shall I be afraid2Meanwhile, the guilty draw near to me, so as to eat my flesh. Those who trouble me, my enemies, have themselves been weakened and have fallen3If entrenched armies were to stand together against me, my heart would not fear. If a battle were to rise up against me, I would have hope in this4One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, so that I may behold the delight of the Lord, and may visit his temple5For he has hidden me in his tabernacle. In the day of evils, he has protected me in the hidden place of his tabernacle6He has exalted me upon the rock, and now he has exalted my head above my enemies. I have circled around and offered a sacrifice of loud exclamation in his tabernacle. I will sing, and I will compose a psalm, to the Lord7Hear my voice, O Lord, with which I have cried out to you. Have mercy on me, and hear me8My heart has spoken to you; my face has sought you. I yearn for your face, O Lord9Do not turn your face away from me. In your wrath, do not turn aside from your servant. Be my helper. Do not abandon me, and do not despise me, O God, my Saviour10For my father and my mother have left me behind, but the Lord has taken me up11O Lord, establish a law for me in your way, and direct me in the right path, because of my enemies12Do not surrender me to the souls of those who trouble me. For unjust witnesses have risen up against me, and iniquity has lied to itself13I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living14Wait for the Lord, act manfully; and let your heart be strengthened, and remain with the Lord
Gospel: Luke 15.1-10
1Now tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to him, so that they might listen to him2And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This one accepts sinners and eats with them.3And he told this parable to them, saying4"What man among you, who has one hundred sheep, and if he will have lost one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the one whom he had lost, until he finds it5And when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing6And returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them: ‘Congratulate me! For I have found my sheep, which had been lost.7I say to you, that there will be so much more joy in heaven over one sinner repenting, than over the ninety-nine just, who do not need to repent8Or what woman, having ten drachmas, if she will have lost one drachma, would not light a candle, and sweep the house, and diligently search until she finds it9And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying: ‘Rejoice with me! For I have found the drachma, which I had lost.10So I say to you, there will be joy before the Angels of God over even one sinner who is repentant.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound teachings from St. Paul and Jesus that guide us in understanding our relationship with God and our fellow human beings. The first reading from Romans reminds us that our lives are not our own; we belong to the Lord, whether in life or death. Paul urges us not to judge one another, as we will all stand before God's judgment seat. This teaching emphasizes accountability to God rather than to human standards, highlighting the importance of focusing on our own walk with God without condemning others.
The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus' parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, illustrating God's immense joy in the repentance of sinners. These parables, told in response to criticism from the Pharisees, showcase God's active seeking of the lost and His rejoicing when they return. Together, the readings from Romans and Luke offer a balanced perspective: while we are responsible to God, His mercy and love are evident in His pursuit of those who have strayed.
In our daily lives, these teachings encourage us to embrace humility and mercy. We should avoid judging others and instead focus on our own relationship with God, trusting in His mercy. Just as the shepherd and the woman in the parables actively seek the lost, we too are called to reach out to others, reflecting God's love and desire for reconciliation. The moral lesson here is clear: live with humility, seek the lost with compassion, and trust in God's mercy, knowing that each return to Him brings great joy.