Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 5, 2025
First Reading: Romans 13.8-10
8You should owe nothing to anyone, except so as to love one another. For whoever loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law9For example: You shall not commit adultery. You shall not kill. You shall not steal. You shall not speak false testimony. You shall not covet. And if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself10The love of neighbor does no harm. Therefore, love is the plenitude of the law
Psalm 112
1Alleluia. Of the return of Haggai and Zachariah. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord. He will prefer his commandments exceedingly2His offspring will be powerful on the earth. The generation of the upright will be blessed3Glory and wealth will be in his house, and his justice shall remain from age to age4For the upright, a light has risen up in the darkness. He is merciful and compassionate and just5Pleasing is the man who shows mercy and lends. He will order his words with judgment6For he will not be disturbed in eternity7The just one will be an everlasting memorial. He will not fear a report of disasters. His heart is prepared to hope in the Lord8His heart has been confirmed. He will not be disturbed, until he looks down upon his enemies9He has distributed, he has given to the poor. His justice shall remain from age to age. His horn shall be exalted in glory10The sinner will see and become angry. He will gnash his teeth and waste away. The desire of sinners will perish
Gospel: Luke 14.25-33
25Now great crowds traveled with him. And turning around, he said to them26"If anyone comes to me, and does not hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, and yes, even his own life, he is not able to be my disciple27And whoever does not bear his cross and come after me, is not able to be my disciple28For who among you, wanting to build a tower, would not first sit down and determine the costs that are required, to see if he has the means to complete it29Otherwise, after he will have laid the foundation and not been able to finish it, everyone who sees it may begin to mock him30saying: ‘This man began to build what he was not able to finish.31Or, what king, advancing to engage in war against another king, would not first sit down and consider whether he may be able, with ten thousand, to meet one who comes against him with twenty thousand32If not, then while the other is still far away, sending a delegation, he would ask him for terms of peace33Therefore, everyone of you who does not renounce all that he possesses is not able to be my disciple
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of love and discipleship. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul reminds us that love is the fulfillment of the law. He lists several commandments—against adultery, murder, theft, false testimony, and coveting—but then sums them up in one simple principle: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." This love, he says, does no harm to others and is the very essence of living a life pleasing to God.
In the Gospel, Jesus takes this idea a step further, challenging us to consider the cost of following Him. He says that to be His disciple, we must be willing to "hate" even our closest family members and our own lives. This doesn’t mean literal hatred, but rather a willingness to prioritize our relationship with God above all else. Jesus uses two parables to drive this point home: the builder who must calculate the cost of constructing a tower and the king who must assess his chances of winning a war. Both examples emphasize the need for discernment and commitment before embarking on the journey of discipleship.
These readings are connected by the theme of love and sacrifice. Paul shows us that love is not just a feeling but a way of life that fulfills God’s law. Jesus, however, reminds us that this love requires radical commitment and sacrifice. To love God and neighbor as ourselves means being willing to let go of everything else for the sake of the Kingdom. In our daily lives, this might mean making difficult choices, putting others’ needs before our own, or being willing to endure challenges for the sake of our faith. The moral lesson is clear: true love is not cheap or superficial; it demands our whole heart, mind, and soul. Let us ask ourselves today: am I willing to pay the price of discipleship, trusting that God’s love will guide and sustain me?