Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 11, 2021
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
In today's readings, we encounter two profound messages that invite us to reflect on our faith and response to God's revelation. The first reading from Romans introduces Paul as a servant of Christ, called to spread the Gospel. He emphasizes Jesus as the Son of God, both in His humanity through David and His divinity through resurrection. Paul's mission to the Gentiles highlights the universal call to faith, greeting the Romans with grace and peace.
The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus addressing the skepticism of His time. He criticizes the generation for seeking signs, referencing Jonah as the only sign they will receive. Jesus uses the examples of the queen of the South and the Ninevites to illustrate their responsiveness to God's message, contrasting it with the current generation's reluctance. He underscores that something greater than Jonah is present, urging repentance.
Both readings remind us of the importance of faith and response to God's revelation. Like the queen and Nineveh, we should embrace God's message without demanding more signs. In our daily lives, let us remain open to God's presence, trusting in His revelation and living with faith and humility. The moral lesson is clear: repentance and faith are essential, and we must not let skepticism hinder our response to God's call.