Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 11, 2017
First Reading: Romans 16.3-9, 16, 22-27
3Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,4who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.5Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.6Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.7Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.8Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.9Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.16Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.22I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.23Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.24See Footnote25Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages26but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith--27to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Psalm 145
1I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.2Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.3Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.4One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.5On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.6They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness.7They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.8The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.9The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.10All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you!11They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power,12to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.[The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]14The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.15The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.16You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.17The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.18The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.19He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.20The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.21My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Gospel: Luke 16.9-15
9And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.10"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.11If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?12And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?13No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."14The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.15And he said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two distinct yet interconnected themes: the importance of community and the prudent use of resources. The first reading from Romans is a heartfelt farewell from Paul, where he acknowledges the contributions of various individuals and communities, highlighting the value of unity and mutual support. This passage emphasizes the strength found in shared faith and collaboration. The Gospel from Luke, however, shifts focus to Jesus’ teachings on wealth and service, urging us to use our resources wisely and remain faithful in our stewardship, while cautioning against the pitfalls of greed and the impossibility of serving both God and money.
The connection between these readings lies in their emphasis on relationships—whether with others or with material wealth. Paul’s letter underscores the bonds within the Christian community, while Jesus’ parable reminds us that our relationship with wealth is a reflection of our faithfulness. Both readings call us to trustworthiness and integrity, whether in our interactions with others or in our management of resources.
In our daily lives, these teachings encourage us to be faithful in our duties and generous with our resources, using them to foster positive relationships and support others. The moral lesson here is clear: prioritize God over material wealth, cultivate a spirit of service, and embrace generosity. By doing so, we build a community grounded in faith and trustworthiness, reflecting the values upheld by Paul and taught by Jesus.