Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 12, 2024
First Reading: Galatians 3.22-29
22But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.23Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.24So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,26for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.29And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
Psalm 105
1Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!2Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!3Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!4Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!5Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,6O offspring of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones!7He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.8He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,9the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac,10which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant,11saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance."12When they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it,13wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people,14he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account,15saying, "Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!"16When he summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread,17he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.18His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron;19until what he had said came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him.20The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free;21he made him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions,22to bind his princes at his pleasure and to teach his elders wisdom.23Then Israel came to Egypt; Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.24And the LORD made his people very fruitful and made them stronger than their foes.25He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants.26He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen.27They performed his signs among them and miracles in the land of Ham.28He sent darkness, and made the land dark; they did not rebel against his words.29He turned their waters into blood and caused their fish to die.30Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings.31He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country.32He gave them hail for rain, and fiery lightning bolts through their land.33He struck down their vines and fig trees, and shattered the trees of their country.34He spoke, and the locusts came, young locusts without number,35which devoured all the vegetation in their land and ate up the fruit of their ground.36He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength.37Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold, and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.38Egypt was glad when they departed, for dread of them had fallen upon it.39He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light by night.40They asked, and he brought quail, and gave them bread from heaven in abundance.41He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed through the desert like a river.42For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham, his servant.43So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing.44And he gave them the lands of the nations, and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples' toil,45that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws. Praise the LORD!
Gospel: Luke 11.27-28
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the unity and equality brought by faith in Christ. In Galatians, Paul explains that through faith, we are all sons and daughters of God, transcending earthly distinctions. The law served as a guardian until faith was revealed, and now, in Christ, we are united beyond categories like Jew or Greek, servant or free, male or female. This unity is a gift of faith, making us heirs of God's promise.
In the Gospel, a woman praises Jesus' mother, but He shifts the focus to the blessedness of hearing and keeping God's word. This emphasizes that our true blessedness comes not from earthly ties but from our spiritual commitment. Jesus calls us to a life of obedience and faith, which unites us in our devotion to God.
Applying this to our lives, we are reminded to live out our faith with love and equality, treating all as one in Christ. The moral lesson is clear: our faith and obedience to God's word are what truly unite us, making us children of God and heirs of His promise. Let us embrace this unity and live it out in our daily lives.