Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 14, 2017
First Reading: Wisdom 2.23 – 3.9
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Psalm 34
1I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.2My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.3Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!4I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.5Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.8Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!9Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!10The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.11Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.12What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?13Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.14Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.15The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.16The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.17When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.19Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.20He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.21Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.22The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
Gospel: Luke 17.7-10
7"Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at table'?8Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink'?9Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?10So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'"
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of life, death, and our relationship with God. In the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, we hear that God created humanity to be immortal, made in His own image and likeness. However, death entered the world through the envy of the devil. Despite this, the souls of the just are in God’s hands, and no torment of death will touch them. The passage reassures us that even though the righteous may suffer in this life, their hope is rooted in immortality. They are tested and purified like gold in a furnace, and in the end, they will shine and reign with God. This reading reminds us that our true home is not this world but the eternal life promised by God.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about a servant who works in the field all day and then serves his master without expecting thanks. Jesus asks if the master would be grateful to the servant for doing what was commanded. The answer, of course, is no. The servant has simply done what was expected of him. Jesus then applies this to us: when we have done all that we are commanded to do, we should not seek praise but humbly acknowledge that we are merely doing our duty. This teaching emphasizes the virtue of humility and the importance of serving God and others without seeking recognition or reward.
These readings are connected by the themes of trust in God and humility. The first reading encourages us to trust in God’s plan, even in the face of suffering and death, knowing that our ultimate reward is eternal life. The Gospel, on the other hand, calls us to live out this trust through humble service, recognizing that everything we do is part of our duty as God’s children. In our daily lives, we are called to imitate the just who endure trials with hope and to serve others with humility, remembering that our true worth is not measured by human praise but by our fidelity to God. Let us strive to live each day with faith, hope, and humility, trusting in God’s plan and serving Him and others with gratitude.