Daily Readings - Tue Nov 14 2023

Wisdom

Chapter 2

²³For God created man to be immortal, and he made him in the image of his own likeness²⁴But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world²⁵yet they imitate him, who are from his side

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

Luke

Chapter 17

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.