Daily Readings - Thu Oct 31 2019

Romans

31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?32He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?33Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.34Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?36As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Luke

31At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you."32And he said to them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.33Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.'34O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!35Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'"

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the depth of God’s love and the challenges of living out that love in a world often resistant to it. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul assures us that nothing—no trial, no suffering, no power in creation—can separate us from the love of God poured into our hearts through Christ Jesus. This is a profound statement of hope and trust, reminding us that even in the darkest moments, we are not alone or abandoned. God’s love is not conditional; it is not withdrawn when we face difficulty or when we fail. It endures all things, and it is this love that gives us the strength to overcome every adversity. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks with both determination and sorrow. He knows that Herod seeks to kill him, yet he continues his mission, undeterred. He laments over Jerusalem, which has rejected the prophets and refused to accept the love and protection he offers. Jesus’ words reveal the tension between the steadfastness of God’s love and the freedom of human response. While God’s love is unwavering, we are free to accept or reject it. Jesus’ sorrow over Jerusalem is a reminder that God’s love is not imposed; it must be received with openness and humility. These readings call us to reflect on how we live out God’s love in our own lives. Like St. Paul, we are to trust in the unshakable love of God, even when the world around us seems hostile or uncertain. Like Jesus, we are to persevere in our mission to share that love, even when it is rejected. In our daily lives, this means facing challenges with faith, loving those who may not love us in return, and remaining steadfast in our commitment to follow Christ. Let us ask ourselves: Do I truly trust in God’s love? Am I willing to share that love, even when it is difficult? May we, like Jesus, embrace the cross with courage and hope, knowing that God’s love is our ultimate victory.