Daily Readings - Thu Oct 19 2023
Romans
21But now, without the law, the justice of God, to which the law and the prophets have testified, has been made manifest22And the justice of God, through the faith of Jesus Christ, is in all those and over all those who believe in him. For there is no distinction23For all have sinned and all are in need of the glory of God24We have been justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus25whom God has offered as a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to reveal his justice for the remission of the former offenses26and by the forbearance of God, to reveal his justice in this time, so that he himself might be both the Just One and the Justifier of anyone who is of the faith of Jesus Christ27So then, where is your self-exaltation? It is excluded. Through what law? That of works? No, but rather through the law of faith28For we judge a man to be justified by faith, without the works of the law29Is God of the Jews only and not also of the Gentiles? On the contrary, of the Gentiles also30For One is the God who justifies circumcision by faith and uncircumcision through faith
Luke
47Woe to you, who build the tombs of the prophets, while it is your fathers who killed them48Clearly, you are testifying that you consent to the actions of your fathers, because even though they killed them, you build their sepulchers49Because of this also, the wisdom of God said: I will send to them Prophets and Apostles, and some of these they will kill or persecute50so that the blood of all the Prophets, which has been shed since the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation51from the blood of Abel, even to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. So I say to you: it will be required of this generation52Woe to you, experts in the law! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves do not enter, and those who were entering, you would have prohibited.53Then, while he was saying these things to them, the Pharisees and the experts in the law began to insist strongly that he restrain his mouth about many things54And waiting to ambush him, they sought something from his mouth that they might seize upon, in order to accuse him
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound truths about justice, faith, and hypocrisy. The first reading from Romans emphasizes that God's justice is revealed through faith in Jesus Christ, not through the works of the law. Paul makes it clear that all people—Jews and Gentiles alike—have sinned and fall short of God's glory, but through faith, we are justified freely by God's grace. This grace is a gift, and it unites us in Christ, breaking down the barriers that once divided us.
In the Gospel, Jesus confronts the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. They honor the prophets with tombs but reject the message of the prophets, just as their ancestors persecuted and killed them. Jesus points out that their actions reveal a deeper spiritual blindness—they have the key of knowledge but fail to use it to enter the Kingdom themselves, and they even prevent others from doing so. This is a stark warning against allowing religious practices and traditions to become empty rituals that obscure the truth of God's love and justice.
These readings call us to reflect on our own lives. Like the Pharisees, we can sometimes focus on outward appearances of faith—attending Mass, reciting prayers, or following rules—while neglecting the inner transformation that true faith requires. Paul reminds us that faith is not about earning God's favor through works but about trusting in His grace and living in a way that reflects His love. Jesus challenges us to examine our hearts and actions, ensuring that we do not become like the Pharisees, who knew the law but missed the heart of God.
Let us ask ourselves: Are we living a faith that is authentic and transformative, or are we settling for a shallow religiosity? True faith calls us to humility, compassion, and a willingness to let go of our own self-righteousness. It invites us to embrace God's justice and mercy, not just with our minds, but with our hearts and lives. May we strive to be people of genuine faith, who walk in the light of God's grace and reflect His love to the world.