Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 14, 2019
First Reading: Romans 1.1-7
1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,2which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,3concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh4and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,5through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,6including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,7To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 98
1Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.2The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.3He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.4Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!5Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!6With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!7Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!8Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together9before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
Gospel: Luke 11.29-32
29When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.30For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.31The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.32The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
Sermon
The readings today guide us through themes of faith, divine plan, and repentance. In Romans, Paul introduces himself as a servant of Christ, emphasizing the Gospel's roots in prophecy and the divine nature of Jesus. This sets the stage for understanding the Good News as a fulfillment of God's promises. In Luke, Jesus critiques the crowd for seeking signs, using Jonah's story to illustrate the importance of faith without constant proof. He also highlights the queen of the South and the Ninevites as examples of those who responded faithfully to God's message.
Both readings underscore the importance of trusting in God's plan. Paul's letter establishes the authority of the Gospel, while Jesus' words in Luke call for a deeper faith. The connection between the readings lies in their emphasis on responding to God's message with openness and repentance, rather than skepticism or resistance.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our own faith. How often do we seek signs or proofs before fully trusting in God? Jesus reminds us that faith is about trusting in what is already revealed. Like the queen of the South and the Ninevites, we are called to respond with openness and humility. Let us embrace the Gospel with faith, allowing it to transform our lives and guide our actions. The moral lesson here is clear: true faith is not about seeking more signs, but about responding wholeheartedly to God's presence in our lives.