Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 1, 2021
First Reading: Baruch 1.15-22
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Psalm 79
1O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.2They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the heavens for food, the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth.3They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them.4We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us.5How long, O LORD? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?6Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call upon your name!7For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation.8Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low.9Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name's sake!10Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes!11Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die!12Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!13But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.
Gospel: Luke 10.13-16
13"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.14But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.15And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.16"The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on sin, repentance, and God’s justice. The first reading from Baruch is a communal confession of sin, acknowledging Israel’s unfaithfulness to God. The people recognize that their suffering is a consequence of their disobedience and lack of trust in God’s plan. This passage is set in the context of the Babylonian exile, where the Israelites are forced to confront their failures and seek mercy. The second reading from Luke finds Jesus addressing the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, which failed to repent despite witnessing miracles. Jesus laments their hardness of heart, contrasting their response with how even the historically sinful cities of Tyre and Sidon would have repented under such circumstances.
Both readings emphasize the importance of humility and self-awareness in our relationship with God. Baruch’s confession shows that true repentance involves acknowledging our sins and taking responsibility for our actions. Similarly, Jesus’ words in Luke highlight the gravity of rejecting God’s grace and the opportunities He gives us to turn back to Him. The connection between the two readings lies in their call to conversion. Whether in the Old Testament or the New, God’s people are invited to examine their hearts, recognize their sinfulness, and return to the Lord with sincerity.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Where in our lives are we resisting God’s call to repentance? Are there areas where we, like the towns in Luke’s Gospel, have grown complacent or indifferent to God’s presence? Let us learn from the example of Baruch, who leads his people in a heartfelt confession of sin. May we, too, approach God with humility, acknowledging our failures and trusting in His mercy. In doing so, we open ourselves to the transformative power of His grace, which calls us to live more faithfully as His disciples.