Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 25, 2025
First Reading: Romans 8.1-11
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who are not walking according to the flesh2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has freed me from the law of sin and death3For though this was impossible under the law, because it was weakened by the flesh, God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and because of sin, in order to condemn sin in the flesh4so that the justification of the law might be fulfilled in us. For we are not walking according to the flesh, but according to the spirit5For those who are in agreement with the flesh are mindful of the things of the flesh. But those who are in agreement with the spirit are mindful of the things of the spirit6For the prudence of the flesh is death. But the prudence of the spirit is life and peace7And the wisdom of the flesh is inimical to God. For it is not subject to the law of God, nor can it be8So those who are in the flesh are not able to please God9And you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if it is true that the Spirit of God lives within you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him10But if Christ is within you, then the body is indeed dead, concerning sin, but the spirit truly lives, because of justification11But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead lives within you, then he who raised up Jesus Christ from the dead shall also enliven your mortal bodies, by means of his Spirit living within you
Psalm 24
1For the First Sabbath. A Psalm of David. The earth and all its fullness belong to the Lord: the whole world and all that dwells in it2For he has founded it upon the seas, and he has prepared it upon the rivers3Who will ascend to the mountain of the Lord? And who will stand in his holy place4The innocent of hands and the clean of heart, who has not received his soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbor5He will receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God, his Saviour6This is the generation that seeks him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob7Lift up your gates, you princes, and be lifted up, eternal gates. And the King of Glory shall enter8Who is this King of Glory? The Lord who is strong and powerful; the Lord powerful in battle9Lift up your gates, you princes, and be lifted up, eternal gates. And the King of Glory shall enter10Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of virtue. He himself is the King of Glory
Gospel: Luke 13.1-9
1And there were present, at that very time, some who were reporting about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate mixed with their sacrifices2And responding, he said to them: "Do you think that these Galileans must have sinned more than all other Galileans, because they suffered so much3No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you will all perish similarly4And those eighteen upon whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they also were greater transgressors than all the men living in Jerusalem5No, I tell you. But if you do not repent, you will all perish similarly.6And he also told this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree, which was planted in his vineyard. And he came seeking fruit on it, but found none7Then he said to the cultivator of the vineyard: ‘Behold, for these three years I came seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I have found none. Therefore, cut it down. For why should it even occupy the land?8But in response, he said to him: ‘Lord, let it be for this year also, during which time I will dig around it and add fertilizer9And, indeed, it should bear fruit. But if not, in the future, you shall cut it down.’
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the transformative power of the Spirit and the call to repentance. The first reading from Romans reminds us that through Christ, we are freed from the law of sin and death, living instead in the Spirit. This passage emphasizes the contrast between a life governed by the flesh and one guided by the Spirit, urging us to seek life and peace through spiritual mindfulness.
The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus teaching on repentance, using tragic events to illustrate that suffering does not correlate with sinfulness. He calls all to repent, reinforcing this message with the parable of the fig tree. This parable highlights God’s patience, offering us time to grow and bear fruit, while also reminding us that this opportunity is not indefinite.
These readings connect through their emphasis on spiritual transformation. Romans focuses on the internal shift from flesh to Spirit, while Luke’s parable illustrates the external manifestation of this transformation through fruitful living. Together, they remind us that our faith is both a gift and a call to action, requiring us to nurture our spiritual growth and repent when we falter.
In our daily lives, this means embracing the Spirit’s guidance, seeking holiness, and being mindful of our actions. The fig tree’s story encourages patience with ourselves and others, recognizing that spiritual growth is a process. The moral lesson here is clear: we are called to a life transformed by the Spirit, bearing fruit through repentance and trust in God’s mercy. Let us embrace this call with gratitude and dedication, trusting in God’s patience as we strive to grow in holiness.