Daily Readings - Sat Nov 30 2024
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 encounter two powerful messages about faith and discipleship. The first reading from Romans emphasizes the universal call to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul explains that confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection leads to salvation, a message meant for all people, regardless of background. He stresses the importance of hearing the Word of God, as faith comes through hearing, and thus, the necessity of evangelization to spread this message.
The Gospel from Matthew illustrates this call to discipleship through the story of Jesus calling Peter, Andrew, James, and John. These fishermen, upon hearing Jesus’ invitation, immediately left their nets to follow Him, demonstrating a radical and prompt response to God’s call. Their willingness to leave behind their livelihoods exemplifies the transformative power of faith and the commitment required to follow Christ.
These readings remind us that our faith journey begins with hearing the Word of God and responding with openness and courage. Just as the disciples left their nets, we too are called to let go of our attachments and follow Jesus wholeheartedly. Moreover, we are reminded of our role in spreading the Gospel, ensuring that others can hear and respond to God’s call. May we embrace this call with the same immediacy and willingness as the disciples, living out our faith with conviction and sharing the Good News with the world.