Daily Readings - Thu Nov 30 2023
Romans
9For if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and if you believe in your heart that God has raised him up from the dead, you shall be saved10For with the heart, we believe unto justice; but with the mouth, confession is unto salvation11For Scripture says: "All those who believe in him shall not be confounded.12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. For the same Lord is over all, richly in all who call upon him13For all those who have called upon the name of the Lord shall be saved14Then in what way will those who have not believed in him call upon him? Or in what way will those who have not heard of him believe in him? And in what way will they hear of him without preaching15And truly, in what way will they preach, unless they have been sent, just as it has been written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who evangelize peace, of those who evangelize what is good!16But not all are obedient to the Gospel. For Isaiah says: "Lord, who has believed our report?17Therefore, faith is from hearing, and hearing is through the Word of Christ18But I say: Have they not heard? For certainly: "Their sound has gone forth throughout all the earth, and their words unto the limits of the whole world.
Matthew
18And Jesus, walking near the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen)19And he said to them: "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.20And at once, leaving behind their nets, they followed him21And continuing on from there, he saw another two brothers, James of Zebedee, and his brother John, in a ship with their father Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them22And immediately, leaving their nets and their father behind, they followed him
Sermon
In today’s readings, we hear about the call to faith and the call to follow Jesus. The first reading from Romans emphasizes the importance of confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in the resurrection as the foundation of salvation. Paul reminds us that faith comes from hearing the Word of God, and he laments that not all have heard or believed. He quotes Isaiah to highlight the mystery of unbelief but also affirms that God’s Word has been proclaimed to all, even to the ends of the earth. The Gospel, from Matthew, shows us the practical response to this call. Jesus encounters Peter, Andrew, James, and John, and with a simple invitation, they leave everything behind to follow him. Their immediate and wholehearted response is a model for us all.
The connection between these readings is clear: faith and discipleship are inseparable. In Romans, we see the necessity of hearing and believing the Gospel, while in Matthew, we see the radical obedience that flows from true faith. The first reading reminds us that God’s Word is universal, accessible to all, and that salvation is offered freely to everyone. The Gospel, however, challenges us to respond with the same urgency and trust as the first disciples. Their willingness to leave behind their nets and their livelihoods shows us that following Jesus requires sacrifice and surrender.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How am I responding to the call of Jesus in my own life? Do I hear his Word and truly believe it, or do I allow doubt or fear to hold me back? The disciples in today’s Gospel didn’t have all the answers, but they trusted in Jesus enough to take the first step. For us, this might mean being more open to God’s will, sharing our faith with others, or letting go of something that hinders our relationship with him. The moral lesson is clear: faith without action is incomplete, and discipleship requires a willingness to follow, even when the path is uncertain. Let us pray for the courage to hear God’s Word, to believe it deeply, and to follow him without hesitation.