Daily Readings - Mon Nov 06 2017
Romans
29For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.30Just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,31so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.32For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.33Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!34"For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?"35"Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?"36For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Luke
12He said also to the man who had invited him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid.13But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,14and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just."
Sermon
The first reading from Romans reminds us of God’s boundless mercy and the mystery of His ways. Paul reflects on how God’s gifts and call are irrevocable, and how His mercy extends to all, even when humanity falls short. He emphasizes that God’s wisdom and judgments are beyond human comprehension, and that all things come from Him, through Him, and for Him. This passage invites us to trust in God’s plan, even when it seems unclear, and to recognize that His mercy is available to everyone.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches about the importance of humility and generosity. He advises against inviting only those who can repay us, whether through social status or material wealth. Instead, He calls us to invite those who are marginalized—the poor, the disabled, the lame, and the blind. Jesus promises that our reward will come in the resurrection of the just, reminding us that true generosity is selfless and rooted in love, not in expectation of reciprocity.
Both readings challenge us to reflect on how we live out God’s mercy in our daily lives. Paul’s words encourage us to embrace the mystery of God’s ways and to trust in His plan, while Jesus’ teaching calls us to act with humility and compassion. In a world often driven by reciprocity and self-interest, these readings remind us to live differently: to trust in God’s providence and to love without expecting anything in return. Let us strive to imitate God’s boundless mercy by serving others selflessly, knowing that our ultimate reward lies in eternal life with Him.