Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 30, 2022
First Reading: Wisdom 11.22 – 12.2
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Psalm 145
1I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.2Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.3Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.4One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.5On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.6They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness.7They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.8The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.9The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.10All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you!11They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power,12to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.[The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]14The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.15The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.16You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.17The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.18The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.19He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.20The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.21My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1.11 – 2.2
11To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power,12so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel: Luke 19.1-10
1He entered Jericho and was passing through.2And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.3And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature.4So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today."6So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.7And when they saw it, they all grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner."8And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold."9And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful themes of God's mercy, the call to virtuous living, and the transformative power of encountering Christ. The Book of Wisdom reminds us of God's boundless love and mercy, emphasizing that He loves all creation and desires our repentance. This passage invites us to reflect on God's justice and compassion, encouraging us to seek His forgiveness and live in harmony with His will.
The Second Letter to the Thessalonians addresses the community's concerns about the Second Coming of the Lord. St. Paul urges the faithful not to be swayed by false claims but to remain steadfast in their faith and virtue. This reading calls us to patience and trust in God's plan, reminding us that our actions should reflect our belief in Christ's eventual triumph.
The Gospel of Luke presents Zacchaeus, a tax collector whose life is transformed by his encounter with Jesus. Despite his sinful past, Zacchaeus's openness to Christ leads him to a life of generosity and justice. This story illustrates that true conversion involves a change of heart and actions that reflect our commitment to living as disciples of Christ.
These readings remind us that our daily lives should be marked by a deep trust in God's providence and a willingness to respond to His grace. Just as Zacchaeus was transformed by his encounter with Jesus, we too can experience conversion in our own lives. Let us embrace God's mercy, live with faith and virtue, and be open to the transformative power of His love. In doing so, we become instruments of His grace, bringing hope and light to a world in need.