Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 28, 2021
First Reading: Ephesians 2.19-22
19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,21in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.22In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Psalm 19
1The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.2Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.3There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.4Their measuring line goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,5which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.6Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.7The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;8the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;9the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.10More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.11Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.12Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.13Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Gospel: Luke 6.12-19
12In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.13And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:14Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew,15and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,16and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.17And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon,18who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured.19And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on our identity as followers of Christ and our role in the mission of God. In the first reading from Ephesians, we hear that we are no longer strangers or sojourners but are now citizens in the household of God. We are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone. This passage emphasizes that we are part of a living temple, a spiritual structure where each of us has a place and a purpose. It reminds us that our faith is not just an individual relationship but a communal one, rooted in the traditions and teachings of the Church.
The Gospel from Luke complements this by showing us how Jesus, in prayer, chose the Twelve Apostles to be the foundation of this new community. Jesus spent the night in prayer before selecting those who would carry on his mission. This highlights the importance of prayer in discerning God’s will and the significance of community in living out our faith. The crowd that gathered around Jesus, seeking healing and touch, shows us that the Church is not just for the few but for all people, and we are called to be instruments of healing and grace in the world.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How am I living out my role as a member of God’s household? Am I rooted in prayer and open to God’s call? Am I reaching out to others, offering them the healing and love that Christ has shown me? Let us strive to be living stones in the temple of God, building up the Body of Christ and sharing his love with the world.