Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 6, 2021
First Reading: Romans 16.3-9, 16, 22-27
3Greet Prisca and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus4who have risked their own necks on behalf of my life, for whom I give thanks, not I alone, but also all the churches of the Gentiles5and greet the church at their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is among the first-fruits of Asia in Christ6Greet Mary, who has labored much among you7Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and fellow captives, who are noble among the Apostles, and who were in Christ prior to me8Greet Ampliatus, most beloved to me in the Lord9Greet Urbanus, our helper in Christ Jesus, and Stachys, my beloved16Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you22I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord23Gaius, my host, and the entire church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother24The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen25But to him who is able to confirm you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, in accord with the revelation of the mystery which has been hidden from time immemorial26(which now has been made clear through the Scriptures of the Prophets, in accord with the precept of the eternal God, unto the obedience of faith) which has been made known among all the Gentiles27to God, who alone is wise, through Jesus Christ, to him be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen
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: Luke 16.9-15
9And so I say to you, make friends for yourself using iniquitous mammon, so that, when you will have passed away, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles10Whoever is faithful in what is least, is also faithful in what is greater. And whoever is unjust in what is small, is also unjust in what is greater11So then, if you have not been faithful with iniquitous mammon, who will trust you with what is true12And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours13No servant is able to serve two lords. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will cling to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.14But the Pharisees, who were greedy, were listening to all these things. And they ridiculed him15And he said to them: "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of men. But God knows your hearts. For what is lifted up by men is an abomination in the sight of God
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the importance of gratitude, faithfulness, and the proper use of the resources we have been given. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul offers a heartfelt greeting to various members of the early Christian community, acknowledging their contributions and expressing his deep appreciation for their support. This passage highlights the value of community and the bonds of love that unite believers in Christ. It also underscores the importance of recognizing and thanking those who have helped us on our journey of faith.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the use of material wealth and the importance of faithfulness. He encourages us to use worldly resources wisely, not for selfish gain, but to build relationships that will last into eternal life. Jesus emphasizes that faithfulness in small matters is a sign of faithfulness in greater ones. He also warns against the temptation to serve two masters—God and mammon—reminding us that we cannot be divided in our allegiance. The Pharisees, who were consumed by greed, ridiculed Jesus’ teaching, but He made it clear that what is exalted by men is often detestable in God’s sight.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives. Are we grateful for the people and blessings God has placed in our lives? Do we use the resources we have been given in a way that honors God and serves others? Let us strive to be faithful stewards of all that we have, whether great or small, and to prioritize our relationship with God above all else. May we cultivate hearts of gratitude and live in a way that reflects our ultimate allegiance to Christ, knowing that true wealth lies not in material possessions but in the eternal treasures of love, mercy, and faithfulness.