Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 19, 2018
First Reading: Ephesians 1.11-14
11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Psalm 33
1Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.2Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!3Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.4For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.5He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.6By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.7He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses.8Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!9For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.10The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.11The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.12Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!13The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man;14from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth,15he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.16The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.17The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.18Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,19that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.20Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.21For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.22Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
Gospel: Luke 12.1-7
1In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.2Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.3Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.4"I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do.5But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God.7Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound relationship between God’s plan for us and our response to His call in daily life. In the first reading from Ephesians, St. Paul reminds us that we have been chosen by God, predestined in accordance with His will, and sealed with the Holy Spirit as a pledge of our inheritance. This passage emphasizes that our lives are not random or without purpose; we are part of a divine plan, and everything unfolds under God’s providence. The Gospel from Luke complements this by warning us against hypocrisy and encouraging us to live with integrity, trusting in God’s care and providence rather than fearing the opinions or actions of others.
The context of Ephesians is a letter to the early Christian community, reassuring them of their identity as God’s chosen people. Paul wants them to understand that their faith is not just a personal choice but a calling rooted in God’s eternal plan. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus is addressing his disciples, cautioning them against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and urging them to live authentically. He reminds them that nothing is hidden forever and that they should not fear those who can harm the body but have no power over the soul. Instead, they should trust in God, who knows and cares for even the smallest details of their lives.
These readings are deeply connected. Both emphasize living in accordance with God’s will and trusting in His plan. Ephesians calls us to recognize our dignity as children of God, while Luke’s Gospel challenges us to live with honesty and courage, free from the fear of others. Together, they remind us that our lives are not our own but are part of a larger story shaped by God’s love. In daily life, this means embracing our faith with integrity, rejecting hypocrisy, and trusting that God’s providence will guide us through every challenge. Let us strive to live in such a way that we reflect the truth of who we are: beloved children of God, sealed with the Holy Spirit and called to His glory.