Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 8, 2023
First Reading: Romans 13.8-10
8You should owe nothing to anyone, except so as to love one another. For whoever loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law9For example: You shall not commit adultery. You shall not kill. You shall not steal. You shall not speak false testimony. You shall not covet. And if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself10The love of neighbor does no harm. Therefore, love is the plenitude of the law
Psalm 112
1Alleluia. Of the return of Haggai and Zachariah. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord. He will prefer his commandments exceedingly2His offspring will be powerful on the earth. The generation of the upright will be blessed3Glory and wealth will be in his house, and his justice shall remain from age to age4For the upright, a light has risen up in the darkness. He is merciful and compassionate and just5Pleasing is the man who shows mercy and lends. He will order his words with judgment6For he will not be disturbed in eternity7The just one will be an everlasting memorial. He will not fear a report of disasters. His heart is prepared to hope in the Lord8His heart has been confirmed. He will not be disturbed, until he looks down upon his enemies9He has distributed, he has given to the poor. His justice shall remain from age to age. His horn shall be exalted in glory10The sinner will see and become angry. He will gnash his teeth and waste away. The desire of sinners will perish
Gospel: Luke 14.25-33
25Now great crowds traveled with him. And turning around, he said to them26"If anyone comes to me, and does not hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, and yes, even his own life, he is not able to be my disciple27And whoever does not bear his cross and come after me, is not able to be my disciple28For who among you, wanting to build a tower, would not first sit down and determine the costs that are required, to see if he has the means to complete it29Otherwise, after he will have laid the foundation and not been able to finish it, everyone who sees it may begin to mock him30saying: ‘This man began to build what he was not able to finish.31Or, what king, advancing to engage in war against another king, would not first sit down and consider whether he may be able, with ten thousand, to meet one who comes against him with twenty thousand32If not, then while the other is still far away, sending a delegation, he would ask him for terms of peace33Therefore, everyone of you who does not renounce all that he possesses is not able to be my disciple
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the essence of love and the cost of discipleship. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul reminds us that love is the fulfillment of the law. He writes that whoever loves their neighbor has fulfilled the entire law, for love does no harm to others. This passage emphasizes that love is not just a feeling but a commitment to live in a way that prioritizes the well-being of others above our own desires.
In the Gospel, Jesus presents a stark challenge to those who would follow him. He says that to be his disciple, one must be willing to "hate" even their closest family members and their own life, and to take up their cross. This does not mean literal hatred but rather a willingness to prioritize God above all else. Jesus uses the parables of the builder and the king to illustrate the need for discernment and commitment. Just as a builder calculates the cost of a tower or a king assesses his ability to go to war, we must be willing to renounce all that we possess and take up the cross if we are to be true disciples.
These readings are deeply connected. While Romans focuses on the transformative power of love, the Gospel emphasizes the radical commitment required to live out that love. Together, they call us to a life of self-sacrifice and devotion. In our daily lives, this means prioritizing love in our actions and relationships, even when it is difficult. It also means being honest about the costs of following Christ and being willing to let go of anything that stands in the way of our relationship with him. Let us reflect on whether we are truly living as disciples, bearing our crosses with faith and trust in God’s plan.