Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 2, 2023
First Reading: Exodus 23.20-23a
20Behold, I will send my Angel, who will go before you, and preserve you on your journey, and lead you into the place that I have prepared21Heed him, and hear his voice, and do not hold him in disregard. For he will not release you when you have sinned, and my name is in him22But if you listen to his voice and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will afflict those who afflict you23And my Angel will go before you, and he will bring you to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Canaanite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, whom I will crush
Psalm 91
1The Praise of a Canticle, of David. Whoever dwells with the assistance of the Most High will abide in the protection of the God of heaven2He will say to the Lord, "You are my supporter and my refuge." My God, I will hope in him3For he has freed me from the snare of those who go hunting, and from the harsh word4He will overshadow you with his shoulders, and you will hope under his wings5His truth will surround you with a shield. You will not be afraid: before the terror of the night6before the arrow flying in the day, before the troubles that wander in the darkness, nor of invasion and the midday demon7A thousand will fall before your side and ten thousand before your right hand. Yet it will not draw near you8So then, truly, you will consider with your eyes, and you will see the retribution of sinners9For you, O Lord, are my hope. You have set the Most High as your refuge10Disaster will not draw near to you, and the scourge will not approach your tabernacle11For he has given his Angels charge over you, so as to preserve you in all your ways12With their hands, they will carry you, lest you hurt your foot against a stone13You will walk over the asp and the king serpent, and you will trample the lion and the dragon14Because he has hoped in me, I will free him. I will protect him because he has known my name15He will cry out to me, and I will heed him. I am with him in tribulation. I will rescue him, and I will glorify him16I will fill him with length of days. And I will reveal to him my salvation
Gospel: Matthew 18.1-5, 10
1In that hour, the disciples drew near to Jesus, saying, "Whom do you consider to be greater in the kingdom of heaven?2And Jesus, calling to himself a little child, placed him in their midst3And he said: "Amen I say to you, unless you change and become like little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven4Therefore, whoever will have humbled himself like this little child, such a one is greater in the kingdom of heaven5And whoever shall accept one such little child in my name, accepts me10See to it that you do not despise even one of these little ones. For I say to you, that their Angels in heaven continually look upon the face of my Father, who is in heaven
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of guidance, humility, and the presence of God in our lives. In the first reading from Exodus, God promises to send an Angel to guide and protect the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land. This Angel is not just a passive guide but an active presence who demands obedience and Orients the people toward the fulfillment of God's plan. The context of this passage is crucial—it comes as the Israelites are preparing to enter the land God has prepared for them, emphasizing trust in divine providence and the importance of heeding God's voice.
In the Gospel, Matthew presents a different yet complementary perspective. Jesus teaches the disciples about the importance of humility and becoming like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven. He emphasizes that true greatness in God's eyes is found in humility and simplicity. The mention of Angels in this passage underscores the dignity and worth of every person, especially the vulnerable, and reminds us that our actions toward others have spiritual significance. The context here is a moment of instruction for the disciples, who were arguing about who was the greatest, and Jesus uses the image of a child to challenge their understanding of power and status.
These readings are connected by the theme of guidance and the call to trust in God's plan. In Exodus, the Angel represents God's active presence guiding his people. In Matthew, the child represents the humility and openness needed to receive God's kingdom. Together, they remind us that our journey of faith requires both trust in God's guidance and a willingness to embrace humility and simplicity. As we go about our daily lives, let us ask for the grace to be guided by God's voice, to approach life with the humility of a child, and to treat others with the dignity and compassion that reflects our shared worth in God's eyes. May we remember that we are never alone on our journey, for God's presence and care are always with us.