Daily Readings - Thu Nov 30 2023
Romans
9because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.11For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.13For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."14But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?15And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.18But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world."
Matthew
18While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.19And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."20Immediately they left their nets and followed him.21And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.22Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we hear about the call to faith and the call to follow Jesus. The first reading from Romans emphasizes the importance of confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in the resurrection as the foundation of salvation. Paul reminds us that faith comes from hearing the Word of God, and he laments that not all have heard or believed. He quotes Isaiah to highlight the mystery of unbelief but also affirms that God’s Word has been proclaimed to all, even to the ends of the earth. The Gospel, from Matthew, shows us the practical response to this call. Jesus encounters Peter, Andrew, James, and John, and with a simple invitation, they leave everything behind to follow him. Their immediate and wholehearted response is a model for us all.
The connection between these readings is clear: faith and discipleship are inseparable. In Romans, we see the necessity of hearing and believing the Gospel, while in Matthew, we see the radical obedience that flows from true faith. The first reading reminds us that God’s Word is universal, accessible to all, and that salvation is offered freely to everyone. The Gospel, however, challenges us to respond with the same urgency and trust as the first disciples. Their willingness to leave behind their nets and their livelihoods shows us that following Jesus requires sacrifice and surrender.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How am I responding to the call of Jesus in my own life? Do I hear his Word and truly believe it, or do I allow doubt or fear to hold me back? The disciples in today’s Gospel didn’t have all the answers, but they trusted in Jesus enough to take the first step. For us, this might mean being more open to God’s will, sharing our faith with others, or letting go of something that hinders our relationship with him. The moral lesson is clear: faith without action is incomplete, and discipleship requires a willingness to follow, even when the path is uncertain. Let us pray for the courage to hear God’s Word, to believe it deeply, and to follow him without hesitation.