Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 14, 2023
First Reading: Wisdom 2.23 – 3.9
1But the souls of the just are in the hand of God and no torment of death will touch them2In the eyes of the foolish, they seemed to die, and their departure was considered an affliction3and their going away from us, a banishment. Yet they are in peace4And though, in the sight of men, they suffered torments, their hope is full of immortality5Troubled in few things, in many things they will be well compensated, because God has tested them and found them worthy of himself6Like gold in the furnace, he has proved them, and as a holocaust victim, he has received them, and in the time of their visitatio7they will shine, and they will dash about like sparks among stubble8They will judge the nations and they will rule over the people, and their Lord will reign forever9Those who trust in him, will understand the truth, and those who are faithful in love will rest in him, because grace and peace is for his elect
Psalm 34
1To David, when he changed his appearance in the sight of Abimelech, and so he dismissed him, and he went away. I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise will be ever in my mouth2In the Lord, my soul will be praised. May the meek listen and rejoice3Magnify the Lord with me, and let us extol his name in itself4I sought the Lord, and he heeded me, and he carried me away from all my tribulations5Approach him and be enlightened, and your faces will not be confounded6This poor one cried out, and the Lord heeded him, and he saved him from all his tribulations7The Angel of the Lord will encamp around those who fear him, and he will rescue them8Taste and see that the Lord is sweet. Blessed is the man who hopes in him9Fear the Lord, all you his saints. For there is no destitution for those who fear him10The rich have been needy and hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not be deprived of any good thing11Come forward, sons. Listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord12Which is the man who wills life, who chooses to see good days13Prohibit your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit14Turn away from evil, and do good. Inquire about peace, and pursue it15The eyes of the Lord are on the just, and his ears are with their prayers16But the countenance of the Lord is upon those who do evil, to perish the remembrance of them from the earth17The just cried out, and the Lord heard them, and he freed them from all their tribulations18The Lord is near to those who are troubled in heart, and he will save the humble in spirit19Many are the afflictions of the just, but from them all the Lord will free them20The Lord preserves all of their bones, not one of them shall be broken21The death of a sinner is very harmful, and those who hate the just will fare badly22The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants, and none of those who hope in him will fare badly
Gospel: Luke 17.7-10
7But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, would say to him, as he was returning from the field, ‘Come in immediately; sit down to eat,8and would not say to him: ‘Prepare my dinner; gird yourself and minister to me, while I eat and drink; and after these things, you shall eat and drink?9Would he be grateful to that servant, for doing what he commanded him to do10I think not. So too, when you have done all these things that have been taught to you, you should say: ‘We are useless servants. We have done what we should have done.’
Sermon
The first reading from the Book of Wisdom reminds us that God created humanity to be immortal, made in His image and likeness. However, through the envy of the devil, death entered the world. Yet, the souls of the just are in God’s hands, and no torment of death will touch them. Though they may suffer in the eyes of the foolish, their hope is rooted in immortality. This passage reassures us that those who trust in God will understand the truth and find peace in His love. It is a powerful reminder of the eternal nature of the soul and the ultimate triumph of the just.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about a servant and master, emphasizing the importance of humility. He asks if a master would thank a servant for doing their duty, implying that the servant should not expect praise for fulfilling their responsibilities. Jesus then applies this to His disciples, saying that when they have done all that is commanded, they should humbly acknowledge that they are merely doing what is expected of them. This teaching challenges us to embrace a spirit of humility and selflessness in our service to God and others.
Both readings call us to trust in God’s plan and to live with humility. The first reading encourages us to see beyond the trials of this life, knowing that our ultimate reward is eternal peace with God. The Gospel reminds us that our efforts to follow God’s will are not for personal recognition but as an act of love and obedience. In our daily lives, let us face challenges with faith, knowing that God tests and refines us like gold in a furnace. Let us also serve others without seeking praise, recognizing that our true reward comes from being faithful stewards of God’s grace. May we strive to live as children of God, trusting in His wisdom and walking in humility.