Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 30, 2018
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 1.1-9
1Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,2To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.4I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,5that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge--6even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you--7so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,8who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.9God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
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: Matthew 24.42-51
42Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.43But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.44Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.45"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?46Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.47Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.48But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,'49and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards,50the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know51and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of grace, vigilance, and faithfulness. In the first reading from 1 Corinthians, St. Paul expresses his gratitude for the Corinthian community, acknowledging the abundant grace they have received in Christ. He emphasizes that they are called to be saints, united with all who invoke the name of Jesus. Paul reminds them that they lack no grace as they await the revelation of the Lord Jesus, who will strengthen them until the end. This passage underscores the richness of God’s grace and the call to live as saints, trusting in God’s faithfulness.
The Gospel from Matthew presents Jesus teaching about the importance of being prepared for His return. Using the parable of the faithful and wicked servants, Jesus emphasizes the need for vigilance and prudent stewardship. The faithful servant is blessed for being diligent in his duties, while the wicked servant, who becomes complacent and abusive, faces judgment. Jesus warns that the Master will return at an unexpected hour, and we must be ready. This teaching challenges us to live with mindfulness and responsibility, recognizing that our actions have consequences and that we are accountable for how we use the gifts and time entrusted to us.
Both readings call us to trust in God’s faithfulness and to live with purpose and readiness. St. Paul reminds us of the grace we have received and the strength God provides, while Jesus urges us to be vigilant and faithful stewards. In our daily lives, this means living with gratitude for God’s blessings, using our talents and resources wisely, and remaining attentive to God’s presence and will. May we strive to be faithful servants, prepared to meet the Lord when He comes, and may we trust in His promise to strengthen us until the end.