Daily Readings - Thu Oct 19 2023
Romans
21But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it--22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,24and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,25whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.26It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.27Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.28For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.29Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,30since God is one. He will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
Luke
47Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed.48So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs.49Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,'50so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation,51from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation.52Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering."53As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things,54lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound truths about justice, faith, and hypocrisy. The first reading from Romans emphasizes that God's justice is revealed through faith in Jesus Christ, not through the works of the law. Paul makes it clear that all people—Jews and Gentiles alike—have sinned and fall short of God's glory, but through faith, we are justified freely by God's grace. This grace is a gift, and it unites us in Christ, breaking down the barriers that once divided us.
In the Gospel, Jesus confronts the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. They honor the prophets with tombs but reject the message of the prophets, just as their ancestors persecuted and killed them. Jesus points out that their actions reveal a deeper spiritual blindness—they have the key of knowledge but fail to use it to enter the Kingdom themselves, and they even prevent others from doing so. This is a stark warning against allowing religious practices and traditions to become empty rituals that obscure the truth of God's love and justice.
These readings call us to reflect on our own lives. Like the Pharisees, we can sometimes focus on outward appearances of faith—attending Mass, reciting prayers, or following rules—while neglecting the inner transformation that true faith requires. Paul reminds us that faith is not about earning God's favor through works but about trusting in His grace and living in a way that reflects His love. Jesus challenges us to examine our hearts and actions, ensuring that we do not become like the Pharisees, who knew the law but missed the heart of God.
Let us ask ourselves: Are we living a faith that is authentic and transformative, or are we settling for a shallow religiosity? True faith calls us to humility, compassion, and a willingness to let go of our own self-righteousness. It invites us to embrace God's justice and mercy, not just with our minds, but with our hearts and lives. May we strive to be people of genuine faith, who walk in the light of God's grace and reflect His love to the world.