Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 6, 2023
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 divine judgment. The first reading from Baruch is a heartfelt confession of the Israelites' unfaithfulness to God. They acknowledge their refusal to listen to His commandments and their pursuit of evil inclinations, leading to their suffering. This text, likely written after the Babylonian exile, serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of turning away from God.
In the Gospel, Jesus addresses the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, condemning their lack of repentance despite witnessing miracles. He contrasts them with Tyre and Sidon, suggesting that even these historically sinful cities would have repented under similar circumstances. This passage underscores the gravity of rejecting the Gospel message, emphasizing that to reject Jesus' disciples is to reject Jesus and the Father.
Both readings highlight the importance of heeding God's word and repenting from sin. Baruch's confession shows the consequences of sin, while Luke's narrative illustrates the severity of ignoring God's call. In our daily lives, we are often given opportunities to hear God's word, yet we may choose to ignore it, much like the cities in Luke. The moral lesson here is clear: repentance is not just a historical concept but a present call. Let us reflect on our own response to God's word, seeking to turn away from sin and towards Him, lest we face the consequences of our indifference. May we embrace humility and faithfulness, ensuring that our hearts remain open to His message.